As we prepare for the TechWomen to arrive, we are learning more about the STEM ecosystem in each of their home countries. Here are some fun facts about the unique places where TechWomen participants live and work.
Algeria: Almost every person owns a cell phone, compared to only 10% of the population owning a land line telephone. (CIA World Factbook)
Cameroon: YooMee, founded in 2010, was the first high speed internet provider in Cameroon. (Linkedin)
Egypt: About 11% of electricity is generated from hydroelectric plants. (CIA World Factbook)
Jordan: Seventy five percent of all Arabic online content comes from Jordan, making it the top contributor among all Arab countries in terms of internet content. (The Business Report)
Kenya: Nairobi’s Innovation Hub and incubator for the technology community, iHub, is an open space for technologists, investors, tech companies and hackers. (iHub)
Lebanon: In the ranking for best country for math and science education, Lebanon comes in fifth. (World Economic Forum)
Libya: There are 353,900 internet users – about 14% of the population. (CIA World Factbook)
Morocco: Subscribing to the internet costs about $27 per month. (Nation Master)
Nigeria: On September 27, 2003 Nigeria launched its first satellite, called Nigeriasat-1, into space. Nigeriasat-1 is part of the world-wide Disaster Monitoring Constellation System. (BBC News)
Palestinian Territories: About 2,000 Palestinians graduate from local universities each year in technical subjects, one-third to one-half of them women. (New York Times)
Rwanda: Mobile phone/data coverage for Rwanda’s population is reported at 96%. (World Economic Forum)
Sierra Leone: Fourah Bay College, founded in 1827 at The University of Sierra Leone, is the oldest university in West Africa and provides programs in engineering and pure and applied sciences. (The University of Sierra Leone)
South Africa: The world’s first adult human heart transplant was performed on December 3, 1967 at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. (About.com)
Tunisia: Small and medium enterprises in Tunisia now comprise 95% of the country’s businesses. (Wamda)
Yemen: The top-ranked university in the country is the Yemeni University of Science & Technology. (Webometrics Ranking of World Universities)
Zimbabwe: The highest literacy rate in Africa exists in Zimbabwe, at 92%. (Human Development Index, UNDP)
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