A general view of an oil offshore platform in the surrounding waters of the Angolan coast.
#6. Angola's Booming Economy
After nearly three decades of civil war that ended in 2002, having claimed more than 500,000 lives, Angola was a devastated and broken nation. But five years later, thanks to increased oil production, the International Monetary Fund estimates the sub-Saharan nation's economy will have ballooned 24% this year, one of the fastest growth rates in the world. (In comparison, China's booming economy is projected to grow 11.5% this year.) The government is putting some of this wealth into new roads and public transportation, but critics worry the influx of cash is mostly lining the pockets of the elite — and building mansions in the capital city of Luanda.