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[Selam/]

Mapped: Just Five Countries Make Up Half of Africa’s GDP
Published 3 months ago on October 5, 2024
By Pallavi Rao
Graphics/Design:
Miranda Smith



Just Five Countries Are Responsible for Half of Africa’s GDP
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Africa’s GDP stands at $2.8 trillion in 2024, the combined economic output of 1.4 billion people. But not all of that productivity is distributed equally.

This map highlights the five countries whose combined economic output equals that of the rest of the continent. Data is sourced from the International Monetary Fund, last updated April 2024. Figures for Western Sahara and Eritrea have not been included due to unavailability.

Dividing Africa in Two Economic Halves
The Big Five African economies—South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, and Ethiopia—have a combined GDP of $1.4 trillion. This bloc consists of 569 million people, or 44% of the continent’s population.

GDP Rank African Country GDP (2024, Billions) Population (2023)
1 South Africa $373.23 60.4M
2 Egypt $347.59 112.7M
3 Algeria $266.78 45.6M
4 Nigeria $252.74 223.8M
5 Ethiopia $205.13 126.5M
N/A Big 5 Economies $1,445 569M

Note: Figures rounded. Population data sourced from the World Bank.
Meanwhile, the rest of Africa, 48 countries in total, also has a combined GDP of $1.4 trillion.

Search:

GDP Rank African Country 2024 GDP (Billions) 2023 Population
6 Morocco $152.38 37.5M
7 Kenya $104.00 55.1M
8 Angola $92.12 36.7M
9 Côte d'Ivoire $86.91 28.9M
10 Tanzania $79.61 67.4M
11 Ghana $75.24 34.1M
12 DRC $73.76 102.2M
13 Uganda $56.31 48.6M
14 Tunisia $54.71 12.5M
15 Cameroon $53.21 28.6M
16 Libya $48.22 6.8M
17 Senegal $35.45 17.7M
N/A Rest of Africa $1,372 886M

Showing 1 to 12 of 48 entries
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Note: Figures rounded. Population data sourced from World Bank.
Of course, the Big Five differ economically from one another. South Africa’s financial and manufacturing sectors are robust, with its mining industry—focused on platinum group metals, gold, and chromium—contributing 8% to GDP.

Egypt benefits from its strategic control of the Suez Canal, generating significant revenue from this vital trade route. Tourism, driven by Egypt’s rich history and culture, also plays a major role in its economy.

Nigeria and Algeria both depend on the energy sector, though their focus varies. Algeria primarily exports natural gas, while Nigeria is a major crude oil exporter.

In contrast, Ethiopia relies heavily on agriculture, with coffee serving as a key economic and export driver.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped ... ricas-gdp/

[Odie]

Where is sing a poooor Eri?

In Asia

[Selam/]

They share their economic data with North Korea only!

[Selam/]

Ethiopia is the only country among the 5 African’s economic powers that continues to bleed in tribal politics. It’s good that our country is on the list but it can never sustain or be meaningful without peace, justice, and equity.

[Odie]

They share their economic data with North Korea only!

Means it is a secret

[tarik]

[Educator]

Fake data fake reporting, fake news.

[Somaliman]

Fake data fake reporting, fake news.

And most of all fake knowledge.

Otherwise, they would know that GDP is only a measure of economic growth and doesn't provide a picture of an economy's health, quality, or size.

For instance, Ethiopia has a relatively high GDP, yet it's the largest recipient of food aid in Africa, over 80% of both in Addis and across Ethiopia is slum, and 93% of Ethiopia's population still have no access to a basic toilet, leading the entire world in toilet scarcity!

[Fiyameta]