Africa has maintained consistent high growth rates in the past decade. Metropolitan areas show promise for international investments, and many of Africa’s independent states are developing and implementing strategies that would open up new possibilities for United States companies wishing to export products to Africa. Companies selling and distributing food and beverages, nutritional, and cosmetic and beauty products–with strategic targeted-marketing and product development–will see increased success in the African market.

Africa’s population, at approximately 1.1 billion, makes up 15% of the global population. Africa’s population is made up of predominantly younger generations. Most of Africa’s demographic is under the age of 50, so products geared toward a younger audience will have greater success rates. More than half the population is under 25 years old, so any US products and campaigns could be targeted to the local demographics to optimize sales. Investors should recognize African cultural practices as well as the need for increased health-benefiting products to fit the agrarian preferences of African consumers.

Asia houses some of the largest economies in the world and is comprised of more than 4.4 billion people, making up 60% of the world population. Asia is the fastest-growing economic region in the world, the largest regional economy with a nominal GDP of US$18.5 trillion as of 2010. China’s socialist market economy is the world’s second largest economy and Asia’s largest, with a nominal GDP at an astounding US$10.36 trillion in 2014

Asia has had some of the largest economic booms in history, starting from the 1950-1990 Japanese economic miracle—the 1961-1996 Miracle of the Han River in South Korea—and the 1978-2013 economic boom in China. In fact, China is the world’s fastest-growing major economy, with annual growth rates averaging 10% over the past 30 years.

Canada is one of the wealthiest nations in the world and remains an attractive investment destination, especially for U.S. product manufacturers. The once highly rural society has become a high-tech industrial society within the past century. Post World War II, there was an immense expansion in the Canadian economy. Canada’s new economic growth closely integrated Canadian and US economies, and Canadian economic trends even mimicked those seen in the US

The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) dramatically amplified trade and economic integration with the US, increasing bilateral trade between Canada and the US by 52%. Due to the low tariff and close vicinity between the two countries, trade has continued to thrive. According to the US Census Bureau, Canada is the top country with which America trades, and there is no sign of slowing down.

Europe has arguably the greatest economy in the world, dominating the marketplace. Europe is comprised of more than 731 million people, residing in 48 different countries. Although the European region is one of the smallest in terms of area in the world, it has the highest nominal GDP. According to the International Monetary Fund, in 2013, Europe’s nominal GDP topped out at US$24.4 trillion, about a third of the world total.

Europe in general is a very wealthy region, but like other continents, the wealth of Europe’s states varies. While most states in Europe are very well-developed and have a higher GDP per capita than the world’s average, there are still large differences in wealth between the states.

South America is a rapidly developing economy with many industries and a prospering trade and import-export market. South America is comprised of about 382 million people living in twelve nations and three territories, contributing 6% of the world’s population.

A region once dependent on an Import Substitution economy is now a strong member of the global economy with a US $3.99 trillion GDP in 2010. The biggest individual economies in South America ranked by nominal GDP are Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Uruguay. Currently, the economies of Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, and Chile are experiencing the greatest economic growth. As South America’s economy is rapidly growing and changing, it will be worthwhile to keep up with the market trends of the region.

The economy of the Middle East is very diverse. The Middle Eastern states have been known to be relatively unstable in the past few decades, experiencing many growth and decline cycles. The individual economies in the Middle East range from free market economies to government-led socialist economies. Together, the region is most well known for their oil production and exportation. Therefore, the status of the oil industry significantly affects the entire region.

The Middle East experienced the greatest economic growth during a 20-year period from 1965-1985. The growth was facilitated by the dramatic global increase in gas prices, which were stimulated by the 1972 Arab-Israeli War and the subsequent Iranian Revolution. As oil prices reached new highs, most states in the Middle East benefited from the heightened economy. Not just the oil-producing states (Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar) benefited from the high export earnings. Although oil-producing states benefited directly, non oil-producing Middle Eastern states also reaped some of the benefits.