Most Developed Countries In Africa

Last updated November 24, 2024

Human Development Index Africa
Africa GNI Per Capita
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Human Development Index Africa 2021Question Mark
1.MauritiusMauritius0.802
2.SeychellesSeychelles0.785
3.AlgeriaAlgeria0.745
4.EgyptEgypt0.731
5.TunisiaTunisia0.731
6.LibyaLibya0.718
7.South AfricaSouth Africa0.713
8.GabonGabon0.706
9.BotswanaBotswana0.693
10.MoroccoMorocco0.683
11.Cape VerdeCape Verde0.662
12.GhanaGhana0.632
13.Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe0.618
14.NamibiaNamibia0.615
15.EswatiniEswatini0.597
16.Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea0.596
17.ZimbabweZimbabwe0.593
18.AngolaAngola0.586
19.CameroonCameroon0.576
20.KenyaKenya0.575
21.Republic of the CongoRepublic of the Congo0.571
22.ZambiaZambia0.565
23.ComorosComoros0.558
24.MauritaniaMauritania0.556
25.Ivory CoastIvory Coast0.550
26.TanzaniaTanzania0.549
27.TogoTogo0.539
28.NigeriaNigeria0.535
29.RwandaRwanda0.534
30.UgandaUganda0.525
31.BeninBenin0.525
32.LesothoLesotho0.514
33.MalawiMalawi0.512
34.SenegalSenegal0.511
35.DjiboutiDjibouti0.509
36.SudanSudan0.508
37.MadagascarMadagascar0.501
38.GambiaGambia0.500
39.EthiopiaEthiopia0.498
40.EritreaEritrea0.492
41.Guinea BissauGuinea Bissau0.483
42.LiberiaLiberia0.481
43.DR CongoDR Congo0.479
44.Sierra LeoneSierra Leone0.477
45.GuineaGuinea0.465
46.Burkina FasoBurkina Faso0.449
47.MozambiqueMozambique0.446
48.MaliMali0.428
49.BurundiBurundi0.426
50.Central African RepublicCentral African Republic0.404
51.NigerNiger0.400
52.ChadChad0.394
53.South SudanSouth Sudan0.385

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.

Most Developed Countries In Africa

Region ↕Human Development Index Africa 2021↕Africa GNI Per Capita 2022↕
Algeria iconAlgeria0.745$4,273.9
Angola iconAngola0.586$2,998.5
Benin iconBenin0.525$1,303.2
Botswana iconBotswana0.693$7,737.7
Burkina Faso iconBurkina Faso0.449$832.9
Burundi iconBurundi0.426$238.4
Cameroon iconCameroon0.576$1,588.5
Cape Verde iconCape Verde0.662
Central African Republic iconCentral African Republic0.404$427.1
Chad iconChad0.394$716.8
Comoros iconComoros0.558$1,484.9
DR Congo iconDR Congo0.479$2,448.0
Djibouti iconDjibouti0.509$3,136.1
Egypt iconEgypt0.731$4,295.4
Equatorial Guinea iconEquatorial Guinea0.596$7,053.5
Eritrea iconEritrea0.492
Eswatini iconEswatini0.597$4,039.5
Ethiopia iconEthiopia0.498$1,027.6
Gabon iconGabon0.706$8,820.3
Gambia iconGambia0.500$840.0
Ghana iconGhana0.632$2,175.9
Guinea iconGuinea0.465$1,531.7
Guinea Bissau iconGuinea Bissau0.483$775.8
Ivory Coast iconIvory Coast0.550
Kenya iconKenya0.575$2,099.3
Lesotho iconLesotho0.514$1,107.4
Liberia iconLiberia0.481$754.5
Libya iconLibya0.718$6,716.1
Madagascar iconMadagascar0.501$505.0
Malawi iconMalawi0.512$645.2
Mali iconMali0.428$833.3
Mauritania iconMauritania0.556$2,190.7
Mauritius iconMauritius0.802$10,216.3
Morocco iconMorocco0.683$3,527.9
Mozambique iconMozambique0.446$541.5
Namibia iconNamibia0.615$4,911.3
Niger iconNiger0.400$533.0
Nigeria iconNigeria0.535$2,184.4
Republic of the Congo iconRepublic of the Congo0.571$586.5
Rwanda iconRwanda0.534$966.3
Sao Tome and Principe iconSao Tome and Principe0.618$2,404.3
Senegal iconSenegal0.511$1,598.7
Seychelles iconSeychelles0.785$15,874.5
Sierra Leone iconSierra Leone0.477$461.4
South Africa iconSouth Africa0.713$6,776.5
South Sudan iconSouth Sudan0.385$1,071.8
Sudan iconSudan0.508$1,102.1
Tanzania iconTanzania0.549$1,192.4
Togo iconTogo0.539$918.4
Tunisia iconTunisia0.731$3,776.7
Uganda iconUganda0.525$964.2
Zambia iconZambia0.565$1,487.9
Zimbabwe iconZimbabwe0.593$1,267.0

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

By Region

Algeria

See Less

Ranked in Africa

#3

Ranked in Africa

#10

Angola

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Ranked in Africa

#18

Ranked in Africa

#15

Benin

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Ranked in Africa

#31

Ranked in Africa

#27

Botswana

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Ranked in Africa

#9

Ranked in Africa

#4

Burkina Faso

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Ranked in Africa

#46

Ranked in Africa

#39

Burundi

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Ranked in Africa

#49

Ranked in Africa

#51

Cameroon

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Ranked in Africa

#19

Ranked in Africa

#23

Cape Verde

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Ranked in Africa

#11

Central African Republic

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Ranked in Africa

#50

Ranked in Africa

#50

Chad

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Ranked in Africa

#52

Ranked in Africa

#42

Comoros

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Ranked in Africa

#23

Ranked in Africa

#26

DR Congo

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Ranked in Africa

#43

Ranked in Africa

#16

Djibouti

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Ranked in Africa

#35

Ranked in Africa

#14

Egypt

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Ranked in Africa

#4

Ranked in Africa

#9

Equatorial Guinea

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Ranked in Africa

#16

Ranked in Africa

#5

Eritrea

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Ranked in Africa

#40

Eswatini

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Ranked in Africa

#15

Ranked in Africa

#11

Ethiopia

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Ranked in Africa

#39

Ranked in Africa

#33

Gabon

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Ranked in Africa

#8

Ranked in Africa

#3

Gambia

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Ranked in Africa

#38

Ranked in Africa

#37

Ghana

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Ranked in Africa

#12

Ranked in Africa

#20

Guinea

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Ranked in Africa

#45

Ranked in Africa

#24

Guinea Bissau

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Ranked in Africa

#41

Ranked in Africa

#40

Ivory Coast

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Ranked in Africa

#25

Kenya

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Ranked in Africa

#20

Ranked in Africa

#21

Lesotho

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Ranked in Africa

#32

Ranked in Africa

#30

Liberia

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Ranked in Africa

#42

Ranked in Africa

#41

Libya

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Ranked in Africa

#6

Ranked in Africa

#7

Madagascar

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Ranked in Africa

#37

Ranked in Africa

#47

Malawi

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Ranked in Africa

#33

Ranked in Africa

#43

Mali

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Ranked in Africa

#48

Ranked in Africa

#38

Mauritania

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Ranked in Africa

#24

Ranked in Africa

#18

Mauritius

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Ranked in Africa

#1

Ranked in Africa

#2

Morocco

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Ranked in Africa

#10

Ranked in Africa

#13

Mozambique

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Ranked in Africa

#47

Ranked in Africa

#45

Namibia

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Ranked in Africa

#14

Ranked in Africa

#8

Niger

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Ranked in Africa

#51

Ranked in Africa

#46

Nigeria

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Ranked in Africa

#28

Ranked in Africa

#19

Republic of the Congo

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Ranked in Africa

#21

Ranked in Africa

#44

Rwanda

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Ranked in Africa

#29

Ranked in Africa

#34

Sao Tome and Principe

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Ranked in Africa

#13

Ranked in Africa

#17

Senegal

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Ranked in Africa

#34

Ranked in Africa

#22

Seychelles

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Ranked in Africa

#2

Ranked in Africa

#1

Sierra Leone

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Ranked in Africa

#44

Ranked in Africa

#49

South Africa

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Ranked in Africa

#7

Ranked in Africa

#6

South Sudan

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Ranked in Africa

#53

Ranked in Africa

#32

Sudan

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Ranked in Africa

#36

Ranked in Africa

#31

Tanzania

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Ranked in Africa

#26

Ranked in Africa

#29

Togo

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Ranked in Africa

#27

Ranked in Africa

#36

Tunisia

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Ranked in Africa

#5

Ranked in Africa

#12

Uganda

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Ranked in Africa

#30

Ranked in Africa

#35

Zambia

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Ranked in Africa

#22

Ranked in Africa

#25

Zimbabwe

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Ranked in Africa

#17

Ranked in Africa

#28

Human Development Report 2021 - 2022
Last updated
September 2022
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