The former Sudan was the leading sesame seed oil producer in Africa for 48 years, from 1961 to 2011.
Nigeria topped Africa’s production rankings between 2012–2014 and 2016–2018.
The Central African Republic led sesame oil production in Africa for five years in a recent period.
East African countries, particularly Tanzania and Uganda, have seen significant growth in sesame oil production since the 1990s.
Six countries—Former Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, and the Central African Republic—have consistently played leading roles in Africa’s sesame seed oil production from 1961 to 1981 before the inclusion of some other African countries.
Following their separation, both Sudan and South Sudan have remained among the top sesame oil producers in Africa.
The top producers of sesame seed oil in Africa are mainly from Sub-Sahara African countries.
In SSA, sesame is often grown by small-scale farmers for export purposes.
Ghana led the continent in gold production in 2023, producing 135.11 tonnes, 13.5% of Africa’s total.
Four countries (Ghana, Mali, South Africa, and Burkina Faso) each produced over 95 tonnes, together accounting for 443 tonnes or 44.1% of the continent’s output.
West African countries dominated the rankings, with eight nations from the region among the top 15 producers.
The West African countries in the top 15 combined contributed 525.55 tonnes, more than half (52.3%) of Africa's total gold production.
South Africa ranked third in Africa with 104.29 tonnes.
Burkina Faso ranked fourth while contributing almost 10% of Africa’s gold production.
Rwanda is performing relatively well in terms of governance and rule of law, leading sub-Saharan Africa for the third consecutive year with a score of 0.63 in the 2024 Rule of Law Index. Namibia (0.61) and Mauritius (0.60) closely follow, showcasing relatively stronger legal frameworks.
At the lower end, Nigeria, Congo, and Gabon score 0.40, highlighting persistent governance challenges.
Globally, Denmark tops the list of 142 countries, with a score of 0.90, while Venezuela ranks last at 0.26, emphasising the gap between SSA's highest performers and global leaders. This mix of progress and struggles illustrates the varied state of governance across the region.
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.
Madagascar, Burundi, and Mozambique lead Africa in female workforce participation, with rates above the global average of 48%.
The 2024 estimate ranks Nigeria 30th in Africa, with a female labour force participation rate of 52%.
At least 80% of adults in Madagascar, Tanzania, and Ethiopia who can work are employed or actively seeking jobs.
Across Africa, 63% of working-age people are engaged in the workforce. However, in Algeria, Morocco, and Djibouti, participation is below 45%.
