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Despite producing 33% fewer carats than Russia, Botswana's $3.3B production value nearly matched Russia’s $3.6B in 2023
  • Russia is the volume leader with 37.3M carats, nearly 1.5× Botswana’s 25.1M carats.
  • Botswana punches above its weight: though producing 33% fewer carats than Russia, its output value almost matches Russia's due to higher value per carat price.
  • Eight of the top 10 producers are African (Botswana, Angola, DR Congo, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Lesotho).
  • Low-volume producers like Namibia (2.4M ct → $1.2B) highlight how smaller deposits can yield high-value diamonds.

Only 18 African countries have satellites in space, with Egypt and South Africa accounting for nearly one-third of the continent’s total
  • Egypt and South Africa dominate Africa’s space presence, with 14 and 13 satellites respectively, accounting for nearly one-third of the continent’s total.
  • Nigeria (7), Algeria (6), and Morocco (5) form the next tier, highlighting North and West Africa as emerging hubs in satellite development.
  • The majority of other African countries with satellites, including Rwanda, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Djibouti and Angola, have two satellites each.
  • Out of 54 African nations, only 18 have any satellites in orbit, underscoring the vast disparity in space investment and technological capacity across the continent.

France has 13 time zones, while almost all African countries have just one, except South Africa and DR Congo
  • France tops the world with 13 time zones, owing largely to its overseas territories spread across the globe.
  • The US and Russia follow closely, each spanning 11 time zones, reflecting their massive geographic spread.
  • In contrast, Africa remains highly unified, with just two countries, DR Congo and South Africa, operating two time zones each.
  • Most nations on the list, including Brazil, Mexico, and Spain, fall between 2–4 zones, underscoring how rare double-digit time zone coverage is.

South Africa’s GDP per capita has grown in 21 of the past 24 years, climbing to a record high in 2024
  • South Africa’s GDP per capita rose from $440 in 2000 to an all-time high of $2,692 in 2024.
  • Growth was relatively steady in the 2000s, with notable jumps after 2006 and again in the post-pandemic years.
  • Despite dips in 2008 (global financial crisis) and 2020 (COVID-19 shock), the economy showed resilience with quick rebounds.
  • By 2024, South Africa achieved its strongest per capita GDP on record, cementing its role as one of Africa’s leading middle-income economies.
  • The country recorded growth in 21 of the past 24 years.

Nigeria tops Africa’s women’s football with 1,630.83 points and ranks 36th globally
  • Nigeria leads Africa with 1,630.83 points, ranked 36th globally, maintaining their long-standing supremacy in Africa's women’s football.
  • South Africa remains second, 165 points behind Nigeria, consolidating their position after consistent WAFCON performances.
  • North Africa's breakthrough is evident with Morocco at 3rd, driven by recent World Cup appearances and continental success.
  • There is tight competition in mid-table, with Zambia, Cameroon, and Ghana separated by less than 12 points.

The UK accounted for 62% of Nigeria’s capital imports in Q1 2025; South Africa and Mauritius led African sources
  • The United Kingdom accounted for over 62% of total capital imports into Nigeria in Q1 2025.
  • South Africa and Mauritius are the only African countries in the top 10, ranking 2nd and 3rd respectively.
  • Traditional powerhouses like the US and UAE contributed significantly less than the UK.
  • Emerging markets like the Cayman Islands and Singapore also made the list, reflecting Nigeria’s diverse capital origin base.

Coal dominated South Africa’s electricity source with over 80% share in 2023
  • Coal contributes a staggering 81.8% of South Africa’s total electricity generation.
  • Renewables remain marginal, with wind, solar photovoltaic (PV), and solar thermal collectively accounting for less than 8%.
  • Nuclear power holds a modest role, supplying 3.73% of the total output.
  • Hydropower and oil are limited contributors, together making up just over 6%.
  • Clean energy is growing, but slowly, with solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind leading the charge among non-fossil sources.

Seychelles leads Africa in passport index score with 156 destinations and ranks 24th globally
  • Seychelles holds Africa’s strongest passport, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 156 destinations, and ranks 24th worldwide.
  • Mauritius follows closely, with a passport index score of 149 and a strong global rank of 27th.
  • South Africa leads mainland Africa, ranking 48th globally with access to 103 countries.
  • Southern African countries dominate Africa’s top 10, with Botswana, Namibia, and Lesotho all securing higher index scores than East and North African nations.
  • Africa’s passport strength varies widely, but island nations lead the way.

UAE’s population is 88% immigrants as Gabon tops African list with 19% migrant share
  1. The United Arab Emirates tops the list with immigrants making up 88% of its total population.
  2. Qatar follows closely with 87% of its residents being immigrants.
  3. Kuwait (73%) and Bahrain (55%) also feature prominently, showing a regional trend where nationals are a minority and foreign workers form the economic backbone
  4. Middle Eastern dominance in the top rankings highlights how the Gulf region’s economic model is heavily dependent on imported labor and expatriate populations.

South Africa runs Africa’s longest rail network at 20,986km, while Nigeria trails 9th with 3,798km
  • South Africa leads the continent with a vast 20,986km rail network, nearly triple the size of Sudan’s, the second-largest.
  • Nigeria’s rail infrastructure measures 3,798km, ranking it behind Kenya (3,819km) and DR Congo (4,007km).
  • North African countries like Egypt and Algeria maintain significant rail mileage, exceeding 4,000km each.
  • Southern Africa dominates the top five, with Mozambique and Zimbabwe also featuring prominently.

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