Most Developed Countries In Africa

Last updated May 24, 2025

Gross National Income per Capita
Human Development Index 2023
Top
Last
Gross National Income per Capita 2022Question Mark
1SeychellesSeychelles$15,874.5
2MauritiusMauritius$10,216.3
3GabonGabon$8,820.3
4BotswanaBotswana$7,737.7
5Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea$7,053.5
6South AfricaSouth Africa$6,776.5
7LibyaLibya$6,716.1
8NamibiaNamibia$4,911.3
9EgyptEgypt$4,295.4
10AlgeriaAlgeria$4,273.9
11EswatiniEswatini$4,039.5
12TunisiaTunisia$3,776.7
13MoroccoMorocco$3,527.9
14DjiboutiDjibouti$3,136.1
15AngolaAngola$2,998.5
16DR CongoDR Congo$2,448.0
17Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe$2,404.3
18MauritaniaMauritania$2,190.7
19NigeriaNigeria$2,184.4
20GhanaGhana$2,175.9
21KenyaKenya$2,099.3
22SenegalSenegal$1,598.7
23CameroonCameroon$1,588.5
24GuineaGuinea$1,531.7
25ZambiaZambia$1,487.9
26ComorosComoros$1,484.9
27BeninBenin$1,303.2
28ZimbabweZimbabwe$1,267.0
29TanzaniaTanzania$1,192.4
30LesothoLesotho$1,107.4
31SudanSudan$1,102.1
32South SudanSouth Sudan$1,071.8
33EthiopiaEthiopia$1,027.6
34RwandaRwanda$966.3
35UgandaUganda$964.2
36TogoTogo$918.4
37GambiaGambia$840.0
38MaliMali$833.3
39Burkina FasoBurkina Faso$832.9
40Guinea BissauGuinea Bissau$775.8
41LiberiaLiberia$754.5
42ChadChad$716.8
43MalawiMalawi$645.2
44Republic of the CongoRepublic of the Congo$586.5
45MozambiqueMozambique$541.5
46NigerNiger$533.0
47MadagascarMadagascar$505.0
48SomaliaSomalia$461.8
49Sierra LeoneSierra Leone$461.4
50Central African RepublicCentral African Republic$427.1
51BurundiBurundi$238.4

Africa's Development Landscape

A diverse continent of over one billion people, Africa encompasses 54 countries, each with unique cultures, languages, natural resources, and development trajectories. While African nations have often been associated with economic challenges, many are showing remarkable progress in various indicators of development. A significant method of measuring this development is the Human Development Index (HDI), which is a composite index measuring average achievements in three basic aspects of human development—health, education, and standard of living.

Key findings from the data include:

  • According to the most recent HDI ranking, Mauritius stands out as the most developed country in Africa, with an HDI of 0.802. It is closely followed by Seychelles with 0.785 and Algeria with 0.745.
  • Egypt and Tunisia both stood at an HDI of 0.731, jointly taking the fourth spot. Meanwhile, Libya rounds off the list of the top six with its HDI at 0.718.
  • The countries with the least developed index include South Sudan with 0.385, and Chad with 0.394. Despite being at the bottom of the index, these nations, too, have shown signs of progress in recent years.
  • North African countries dominate the top of the list demonstrating higher levels of development compared to their Sub-Saharan counterparts.

Region ↕Gross National Income per Capita 2022↕HDI 2023↕
Seychelles$15,874.5
Mauritius$10,216.3
Gabon$8,820.30.721
Botswana$7,737.70.731
Equatorial Guinea$7,053.50.674
South Africa$6,776.50.733
Libya$6,716.10.741
Namibia$4,911.30.665
Egypt$4,295.40.754
Algeria$4,273.90.763
Eswatini$4,039.50.695
Tunisia$3,776.70.746
Morocco$3,527.90.71
Djibouti$3,136.10.515
Angola$2,998.50.628
DR Congo$2,448.00.493
Sao Tome and Principe$2,404.3
Mauritania$2,190.70.582
Nigeria$2,184.40.56
Ghana$2,175.90.628
Kenya$2,099.30.588
Senegal$1,598.70.517
Cameroon$1,588.50.595
Guinea$1,531.70.467
Zambia$1,487.90.616
Comoros$1,484.90.582
Benin$1,303.20.55
Zimbabwe$1,267.00.649
Tanzania$1,192.40.571
Lesotho$1,107.40.524
Sudan$1,102.10.514
South Sudan$1,071.80.388
Ethiopia$1,027.60.51
Rwanda$966.30.555
Uganda$964.20.53
Togo$918.40.563
Gambia$840.00.511
Mali$833.30.419
Burkina Faso$832.90.459
Guinea Bissau$775.80.5
Liberia$754.50.497
Chad$716.80.404
Malawi$645.20.522
Republic of the Congo$586.50.598
Mozambique$541.50.439
Niger$533.00.414
Madagascar$505.00.513
Somalia$461.8
Sierra Leone$461.40.487
Central African Republic$427.10.416
Burundi$238.40.419

10 Most Developed Countries in Africa

According to the Human Development Index (HDI), the ten most developed African countries are Mauritius, Seychelles, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, South Africa, Gabon, Botswana, and Morocco.

Mauritius is the most developed country in Africa, with an impressive HDI of 0.802. This high rating is a testament to the nation's focused efforts in improving health, education, and living conditions. Seychelles follows closely in development with a slightly lower HDI of 0.785, indicating commendable achievements in human development.

Ranked third in Africa, Algeria stands out with an HDI of 0.745, demonstrating significant progress in reducing income inequality and investing in human capital. Egypt and Tunisia tie for the fourth spot, with an HDI of 0.731, reflecting their strides in education and healthcare provision.

Libya clinches the sixth spot with an HDI score of 0.718, indicating the country's economic and social development balance. South Africa and Gabon follow with HDIs of 0.713 and 0.706, respectively.

The ninth most developed country in Africa, Botswana, boasts an HDI of 0.693 due to consistent initiatives in improving education and poverty reduction. Lastly, Morocco, with an HDI of 0.683, ranks out the top 10 list, mirroring its efforts to enhance literacy rates and provide quality healthcare.

10 Most Developed Countries in Africa:

  1. Mauritius - 0.802
  2. Seychelles - 0.785
  3. Algeria - 0.745
  4. Egypt - 0.731
  5. Tunisia - 0.731
  6. Libya - 0.718
  7. South Africa - 0.713
  8. Gabon - 0.706
  9. Botswana - 0.693
  10. Morocco - 0.683
The 2025 Human Development Report
Last updated
May 6th, 2025
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