
Are you planning to buy and sell in Africa? Here is a list of Africa’s richest countries – business opportunities in africa
Assessing the wealth of African countries can be approached using various metrics, each offering a different perspective. Here are the rankings based on three commonly used indicators:
1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita (Nominal):
This metric divides a country’s total economic output by its population, providing an average economic productivity per person. According to the International Monetary Fund’s 2024 data, the top five African countries by nominal GDP per capita are:
1. Seychelles – $16,756
2. Mauritius – $12,477
3. Gabon – $8,410
4. Botswana – $8,050
5. Equatorial Guinea – $6,974
Conversely, the countries with the lowest nominal GDP per capita are:
1. Burundi – $313
2. South Sudan – $459
3. Malawi – $514
4. Mozambique – $669
5. Democratic Republic of the Congo – $685
2. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita (Purchasing Power Parity – PPP):
This measure accounts for the relative cost of living and inflation rates, offering a more accurate comparison of living standards between countries. Based on the International Monetary Fund’s 2024 estimates, the top five African countries by GDP per capita (PPP) are:
1. Seychelles – $35,272
2. Mauritius – $25,043
3. Botswana – $19,287
4. Equatorial Guinea – $19,036
5. Gabon – $17,848
The countries with the lowest GDP per capita (PPP) are:
1. Burundi – $855
2. South Sudan – $928
3. Central African Republic – $1,102
4. Democratic Republic of the Congo – $1,316
5. Somalia – $1,322
3. Human Development Index (HDI):
The HDI is a composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators, which are used to rank countries into tiers of human development. According to the United Nations Development Programme’s 2024 report, the top five African countries by HDI are:
1. Seychelles – 0.802
2. Mauritius – 0.796
3. Algeria – 0.746
4. Tunisia – 0.745
5. Botswana – 0.735
The countries with the lowest HDI are:
1. South Sudan – 0.385
2. Chad – 0.394
3. Niger – 0.400
4. Central African Republic – 0.404
5. Burundi – 0.426
It’s important to note that these metrics provide different insights into a country’s economic and social well-being. While GDP
per capita focuses on economic output, HDI offers a broader perspective by incorporating health and education indicators.