The living conditions of sub-Saharan Africans vary from the sophisticated urban centers of South Africa to the nomadic tribal societies of the Sahara Desert. The economic and social settings for most Africans, however, are rooted in the countryside and governed by ancestral traditions and religious beliefs. Traditional cultural beliefs and practices also dominate family life. Women marry young and have large families. Despite rapid urbanization in many countries, three of every four people in the region still live in rural areas, where many eke out a living through subsistence farming.
Agriculture remains the mainstay of the subcontinent's economy.
In the cities, the formal economic sector has been unable to absorb the ever-increasing number of job seekers. Many urban residents rely on earnings from informal-sector activities, such as selling wares on the street. The quality of education for children is often low because of inadequate funds for schools and high dropout rates. Malnutrition is common, especially among children under age 5. Yet sub-Saharan Africa's political, economic, and social circumstances are not static, and the governments are willing to experiment.