Since the 2007/08 academic year, Nigeria has consistently held the top spot for the number of African international students in the US. Before this, Kenya and Egypt also led in certain periods.
This trend highlights the evolving landscape of African students pursuing education in the US over the decades.
Nigeria remains the leading African country of origin for students in the US, with over 20,000 enrolled this year.
Ghana, however, recorded the continent's fastest growth rate at 45%. This increase of over 2,900 students brought Ghana’s total to nearly 9,400, making it the second-largest source of African students in the US.
Nigeria also saw a 13.5% rise, adding more than 2,380 students year-over-year.
Overall, the number of students from African countries in the US grew by nearly 12% in the 2023/24 academic year.
From the early 1960s through the 1990s, Ethiopia's cattle population growth placed it at the forefront of African livestock rearers, holding the top position with millions of cattle.
This leadership continued into the 2000s, reflecting Ethiopia's robust cattle industry on the continent. Sudan managed to take the top position a few times, mostly around the 2000s.
However, Ethiopia quickly reclaimed the top spot. Nigeria's cattle population grew from about 6.03 million in 1961 to 20.9 million in 2022, claiming 6th position in Africa as of 2022.
Africa accounted for one-fourth of the global cattle population as of 2022.
From 1961 to 2022, Nigeria contributed about 7.3% to the global groundnut production, making it a key player in the sector. Alongside China and India, which also dominated production, these three countries accounted for 61% of the world’s groundnut supply.
Since 2015, Seychelles has topped Africa's GDP per capita rankings because of its strength in tourism and fishing.
Libya, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa have also occupied the top spot since 1960.
Watch how the countries vied for the top ten spots over the years.
In 2023, Libya led Africa in labour productivity, generating $29.7 per hour worked. Gabon and Mauritius followed at $25.6 and $25.5.
Meanwhile, Nigeria's workers generated $6.8 per hour, and Burundi recorded the lowest at $0.8.
Globally, Luxembourg and Ireland topped the list with $146 and $143 per hour, showcasing the efficiency and quality of human capital in these economies.
In H1 2024, the UK accounted for nearly half (48.9%) of Nigeria’s capital investments, totalling $2.93 billion, followed by South Africa (14%) and the Netherlands (11%).
This highlights the UK's long-standing economic ties with Nigeria, having invested over $47.5 billion over the past ten years. The UK remains Nigeria's top capital import source.
Over the past seven years, West Africa has consistently been Jumia Group's top market, contributing at least 43% of the company's total revenue. In contrast, regions like East and South Africa have not exceeded a 21% revenue contribution in any single year within this period.
Between 2000 and 2023, Africa received $182 billion in Chinese loans, primarily for energy and transportation development.
Angola, with 25%, was the largest recipient; Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya followed.
While 49 countries benefited, experts warn of increasing debt risks.
MultiChoice Group experienced a 31% decline in revenue from Nigeria in 2024 compared to 2023. Nigeria represented 35% of the group's Rest of Africa (RoA) subscription revenue in 2024, down from 44% in 2023. South Africa's contribution to subscription revenue grew from 56.2% in 2023 to 58.4% in 2024. Meanwhile, Nigeria's share of the total revenue dropped from 18.7% in 2023 to 13.9%.
