Compared to relatively weak global economic growth, West Asia and Africa has a good overall economic growth in 2012, but there are large discrepancies between regions. Due to rising oil prices and continued social unrest in some countries, West Asia and North Africa is divided into two regions with very different growth rates: expected GDP growth rates of oil-export countries and oil-import countries in 2012 are 1.2% and 6.6% respectively. Because of strong domestic demand, the growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is relatively balanced, and expected to grow by 5.3% in 2012. Due to positive growth prospects in 2013, West Asia and Africa will continue to maintain a good performance, but the social unrest in some countries in West Asia and North Africa, the uncertainty of oil price because of unknown perspective of global economy, the prevalence of high unemployment and high inflation will bring a risk to the sustained economic growth in West Asia and Africa.
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