Africa accounts for a small fraction of popes in the history of the papacy as of 2024, with only 3
Key takeaways:
Italy alone accounts for 217 popes, dominating papal history more than any other region or country.
France, the second-most represented, has had only 16 popes, which is fewer than one-tenth of Italy's total.
Germany and Syria have had 6 and 5 popes respectively, reflecting early and medieval Church dynamics.
Africa has had just 3 popes.
Modern nations like Argentina, Poland, and the Netherlands have produced only 1 pope each.
Israel (3), Greece (4), and Turkey (2) are notable for their ancient Christian histories but limited papal presence in modern times.
The history of the papacy has been overwhelmingly dominated by one nation—Italy, which has produced a staggering 217 popes as of 2024. That’s more than all other countries combined, reflecting the historical and geographical centrality of Italy to the Roman Catholic Church.
Beyond Italy, the diversity thins quickly. France, often considered a historical Catholic stronghold, has produced just 16 popes, while Germany follows with 6. Countries like Syria, Greece, and Israel, which played significant roles in early Christianity, have contributed only a few popes each. Notably, Africa accounts for just 3 popes in the entire history of the papacy.
Sterling Financial Holdings Company is Nigeria’s youngest listed PLC, at just 3 years (incorporated October 13, 2021).
Access Holdings and GT Holding Company are both only 4 years old, showing how recent banking reforms are shaping listing dynamics.
Airtel Africa is just 6 years old as a listed entity, highlighting the recent telecoms push into capital markets.
BUA Cement, only 11 years old, reflects how strategic industrial players are now aggressively leveraging public listings.
Financial services dominate the young PLCs list, from VFD Group (15 years) to First Holdco, Stanbic IBTC, and FCMB Group—all under 15.
Real estate and infrastructure players like UPDC REIT (12 years) and AVA Infrastructure Fund (10 years) show that capital-intensive sectors are increasingly tapping the market early.
Royal Exchange is Nigeria’s oldest listed PLC at 104 years, incorporated on February 28, 1921.
Unilever (101 years) and UAC Nigeria (94 years) follow closely behind, cementing their status as legacy multinationals.
Greif Nigeria (85 years) and May & Baker Nigeria (81 years) show enduring pharmaceutical and industrial presence.
Wema Bank is the oldest bank on the list at 80 years, showcasing longevity in financial services.
Consumer goods dominate the list, with companies like PZ Cussons, Nigerian Breweries, and Guinness all exceeding 75 years.
Four companies (Chellarams, PZ Cussons, Thomas Wyatt, and Nigerian Breweries) were all incorporated 77-78 years ago, pointing to a cluster of post-WWII business growth.
The youngest on the list—RT Briscoe—is still 68 years old, proving that listing longevity is no accident but a product of strategic resilience.
Mercado Libre leads with $8.5B, making it Baillie Gifford’s most valuable tech holding after its Jumia exit.
Amazon ($6.2B) and NVIDIA ($6.8B) remain major anchors in the portfolio, highlighting confidence in cloud, AI, and e-commerce.
The "Others" category holds the largest share ($75B), showing how Baillie Gifford’s exposure is spread widely beyond the major names.
Even post-Jumia, the portfolio is deeply rooted in innovation, with stakes in Spotify, Cloudflare, Moderna, and Shopify; covering audio streaming, cybersecurity, biotech, and e-commerce platforms.
