An infographic depicting the percentage share of formal firms that are owned by women in Africa. Data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys (2006-10)

Ivan Colic, art director at Zoom Advertising Cape Town, uses infographics to tell stories about a side of Africa that the press mostly neglects to tell. On his blog, Afrographique, he visualizes the continent’s incredible innovation, entrepreneurship schemes, art and history. This particular infographic depicts the percentage share of formal firms that are owned by women in Africa (based on the World Bank Enterprise Surveys 2006-10). Noteworthy is that female entrepreneurs own nearly 50% of firms in Ghana. The 30% of female-owned firms in the US in 2007 (US Department of Commerce) pales by comparison. On this site, we’ve profiled female entrepreneurs such as the cloth seller at Makola Market in Accra, Ghana. For more profiles of women who’re working in other sectors, see for example, Business Insider’s Profile of Africa’s Top 5 Entrepreneurs.