Africa's reserves, peaking at $560 billion in 2013, declined to $397 billion in 2022

  • In 2013, Africa’s total reserves stood at $560 billion, the highest recorded in the past decade.
  • A steady decline followed, with reserves dropping to $402 billion by 2016.
  • A moderate recovery began in 2017 at $426 billion, stabilising around $400 billion in recent years.
  • As of 2022, Africa’s total reserves were estimated at $397 billion.
  • Despite fluctuations, Africa’s reserves have hovered around $400 billion since 2019.

Africa’s reserves, including monetary gold, have experienced fluctuations over the past decade. In 2013, Africa’s total reserves peaked at $560 billion, the highest recorded in the past decade. However, this period of strength was followed by a steady decline, with reserves falling to $402 billion by 2016. The continent then saw a moderate recovery, beginning in 2017 when reserves rose to $426 billion. This recovery has since stabilised around the $400 billion mark, with 2022 marking a slight dip to $397 billion. This recent dip highlights the ongoing volatility, underscoring the need for Africa to diversify its economic strategies. Despite the fluctuations, Africa’s reserves have remained relatively steady, hovering around $400 billion since 2019.

Source:

World Bank

Period:

2013–2022
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out
Tags
Related Insights

Nigeria’s manufacturing output ($25.4b) in 2024 crashed to 15-year low
  • Manufacturing hit a record $64.90b in 2022, after steady growth from 2016.
  • Output fell 55% to $25.36b in 2024, the worst one-year drop since 1999.
  • Military-era lows: Slumped from $33.33b (1981) to $8.08b (1989).
  • Democratic rebounds: Output grew from $9.62b (1999) to $55.33b (2014), and from $35.12b (2016) to $64.90b (2022).

Sudan faced the most severe economic contraction among African nations in 2024, with a real GDP decline of -13.49%
  • Sudan recorded the steepest GDP decline in Africa in 2024 at -13.49%.
  • Botswana’s economy contracted by -2.99%, the second-worst on the continent.
  • Libya was the only other country in the bottom 10 with negative growth at -0.61%.
  • South Africa, with 0.58% growth, continues to struggle with low economic momentum.
  • Sao Tome & Principe and Equatorial Guinea both recorded growth below 1%.
  • Despite being Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria’s 3.43% growth places it closer to underperforming countries than to the continent’s fastest risers.

While Rwanda saw the highest growth in 2024's real GDP, West African nations showed great performance, as 6 nations made the top 10 list
  • Rwanda recorded the highest GDP growth in Africa in 2024 at 8.89%.
  • Six out of the top ten fastest-growing economies in Africa are from West Africa.
  • Niger and Benin posted impressive growth rates of 8.42% and 7.45% respectively.
  • Nigeria, one of Africa’s biggest economies, had a growth rate of 3.43%, below countries like Senegal and Cabo Verde.

Côte d'Ivoire’s FDI sees dramatic turn in 2024, jumping to $3.8B, over two times 2022 levels and its highest since 1990
  • Côte d'Ivoire attracted $3.80 billion in FDI in 2024, its highest annual inflow ever recorded, more than double 2022’s $1.6 billion.
  • Between 1990 and 2016, its FDI remained mostly below $1 billion annually, only beginning to surge from 2017 onwards.
  • The country crossed the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2021, signalling increased investor confidence and macroeconomic improvements.
  • Over the last three years (2022–2024) alone, Côte d'Ivoire drew in $7.89 billion in FDI, accounting for over 40% of total inflow since 1990.

Ethiopia’s FDI inflows rose from $10M in the 1990s to $3.98B in 2024, with its sharpest growth phase recorded from 2014–2016
  • Ethiopia recorded a total of $46.43 billion in foreign direct investment between 1990 and 2024.
  • Its annual FDI inflows surged from just $10 million in 1990 to $3.98 billion in 2024, reflecting massive investor interest over time.
  • The country experienced three major FDI booms in 1997–2004, 2011–2014, and 2015–2016, driven by policy reforms and industrial expansion.
  • After a pandemic-era dip in 2020, Ethiopia rebounded strongly in 2021 with $4.26 billion in inflows, maintaining high investment momentum through 2024

Cars lead in road traffic crashes, while luxury bus accidents surge by 466.7% over four years
  • Cars were involved in the highest number of road accidents, recording 665 cases over the four-year period.
  • Luxury buses and bicycles recorded the highest quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) growth in accident involvement.
  • Tankers, cars, and motorcycles saw the sharpest QoQ declines, with accident rates falling by 47.2%, 30.6%, and 24.7% respectively.

POPULAR TOPICS
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Get periodic updates about the African startup space, access to our reports, among others.
Subscribe Here
Subscription Form

A product of Techpoint Africa. All rights reserved