Inflation levels across Africa's largest economies range from low and stable in Morocco to high and concerning in Nigeria. Egypt and Nigeria have seen inflation rise to record levels, driven partly by currency devaluations in both countries.
Nigeria has not only fallen from its top spot as the continent's largest economy, but it now holds the spot for the highest inflation rate amongst the top ten economies by GDP.
The International Civil Aviation Day is celebrated every year on December 7. Global Airlines experienced over 100% revenue growth from 2020 to 2023, with passenger revenue, the primary driver of this growth.
Cargo revenue has also contributed significantly to the overall increase. This shows the industry is recovering strongly from the pandemic. Notably, cargo revenue has experienced consistent growth since 2019; even during the COVID-19 pandemic, cargo revenue grew from $101b in 2019 to $140b in 2020.
The airline industry's future looks bright, with continued growth expected in the coming years as forecasted in 2024.
South Africa is rising on the global stage, showcasing its growing influence as it secures its spot as the only African country among the world's top 23 superpowers.
The United States leads with a strength index of 0.89, followed closely by China at 0.80. While traditional powers like Germany and Japan hold their ground, South Africa proudly stands among the top 23 superpowers with a strength index of 0.1. This is the only African country that made the top 23, coming 22nd on the list.
The ranking is based on analysis from Ray Dalio's Great Powers Index 2024. Dalio assessed each nation's strength based on a wide range of metrics, including education, innovation and technology, cost competitiveness, economic output, and military strength.
Note: The Eurozone, ranked third on the list, was removed as it cannot be considered a single country.
Known for its Elephant Cement brand, Lafarge Africa is on its way to reaching its highest annual revenue in the past decade, with its 2024 9-month revenue outperforming full-year revenues for 2023.
Lafarge Africa's journey over six decades is a tale of growth, transformation, and significant milestones. From its roots as WAPCO in 1959 to its current position, the company’s evolution continues, with an acquisition by Huaxin Cement in 2024, pending regulatory approval.
Over the years, many African countries, including Nigeria, have experienced economic turbulence caused by fluctuating global markets and domestic challenges. However, amidst these challenges, there’s hope as IMF economic forecasts point toward growth.
According to the IMF, GDP per capita in Nigeria and Africa is projected to increase from 2025 after years of stagnation and decline. Nigeria’s GDP per capita fell sharply from $2,197 in 2022 to $877 in 2024. Encouragingly, growth is expected with projections of $1,047 for Nigeria by 2029, signaling a slow but steady improvement in living standards.
Nigeria’s GDP for 2024 is up by 3.2% so far, with key sectors driving the growth. In the first nine months of 2024, Finance and Insurance took the lead with a 30.3% increase, followed by Water Supply & Waste Management at 8.3%, and Mining and Quarrying with 5.7% growth.
These are the sectors leading Nigeria’s real GDP growth.
The Nigerian economy shows promise as the IMF projects an increase in the country's GDP growth, rising to 3.2% in 2025. This comes when projections show stagnant global growth at 3.2%, while sub-Saharan Africa outpaces other regions with an anticipated rise to 4.2% by 2025.
After the fuel subsidy was removed, the cost of bus fares for intracity journeys rose by 98% between May 2023 and June 2023. In just 18 months, fares increased by 39% significantly affecting commuters.
