Agriculture, forestry, and fishing play a crucial role in the economies of many African nations. Data from 2024 reveals that this sector's contribution to Gross Domestic Product varies significantly across the continent, with some countries showing a strong reliance.
For instance, Guinea-Bissau led the continent with agriculture contributing a substantial 36.8% to its GDP in 2024. Nigeria also shows a significant contribution from this sector, with agriculture, forestry, and fishing accounting for 20.4% of its GDP in 2024, highlighting its importance to the nation's economy.
Other nations like Comoros (36.6%) and Ethiopia (34.9%) also demonstrated a high dependency on this sector. This high concentration of agricultural contribution is particularly noticeable in West and East Africa. In contrast, countries such as in DR Congo (17.1%) and Angola (16.4%) show a lower percentage, indicating more diversified economies.
Burundi recorded its highest GDP per capita in 2015 ($280.97).
By 2024, GDP per capita dropped to $153.93, a decline of nearly 45% from its peak.
Burundi’s population exceeds 13 million (2024), which dilutes income per person even when overall GDP grows.
Structural challenges like limited industrialization, reliance on subsistence farming, and political instability contribute to stagnation.
Since 2015, Burundi has held the lowest GDP per capita in Africa—and at $153.9 in 2024, it is the poorest country in the world by GDP per capita.