In 2023, Libya and Algeria topped Africa’s reserves, as Egypt faced decline

  • Libya leads Africa’s reserves with $92.4B, followed by Algeria ($81.2B) and South Africa ($62.5B).
  • Morocco $36.3B reserve places it fourth among African nations.
  • Egypt’s holds $33.1B, maintaining a strong reserve position.
  • Angola ($13.9B), Tunisia ($9.24B), Kenya ($7.34B), Mauritius ($7.25B), and DR Congo ($5.1B) round out the top 10.
  • Libya and Algeria’s strong reserves highlight North Africa’s dominance in the Black continent reserve.

North African nations dominate the rankings of Africa’s total reserves, which include gold, while sub-Saharan Africa’s reserves remain relatively low.
Libya, for example, leads the continent with an impressive $92.4 billion in reserves, solidifying its position as the country with the highest reserves in Africa. Following closely behind are Algeria with $81.2 billion and South Africa at $62.5 billion. Morocco comes in fourth with $36.3 billion in reserves, further cementing North Africa’s dominance in the rankings. Egypt also holds a strong position with $33.1 billion.
On the other hand, nations in sub-Saharan Africa, such as Angola ($13.9 billion), Tunisia ($9.24 billion), Kenya ($7.34 billion), Mauritius ($7.25 billion), and DR Congo ($5.1 billion), have far smaller reserves.

Source:

World Bank

Period:

2023
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out
Tags
Related Insights

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism received ₦8 billion, three times the budget of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation
  • The Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy allocated a total of ₦10.5 billion to its MDAs for the 2025 fiscal year.
  • The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) received ₦8 billion, the largest allocation.
  • NIHOTOUR's allocation accounts for 75.5% of the ministry’s total budget for 2025.
  • The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation received ₦2.6 billion, representing 24.5% of the total allocation.
  • NIHOTOUR’s budget is more than three times the allocation given to NTDC.

The Nigeria Immigration Service was allocated the largest share of the Ministry of Interior's budget (₦618.7 billion), accounting for a dominant 55.8%
  • The Nigeria Immigration Service received the highest share — ₦618.7 billion (55.8%) — of the Interior Ministry’s 2025 budget.
  • This allocation emphasises border security and migration management as national priorities.
  • The NSCDC follows with ₦240.9 billion (21.7%), highlighting the government’s focus on civil protection and internal security.
  • The Nigeria Correctional Service received ₦184.6 billion (16.7%).
  • Other agencies, including the ministry headquarters, received ₦64.5 billion (5.8%).

The National Commission for Museums and Monuments received the largest allocation (₦15 billion) among the ministry’s MDAs
  • The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy received a total of ₦71.7 billion in the 2025 budget.
  • The National Commission for Museums and Monuments got the highest allocation of ₦15 billion.
  • Visual and film industries received notable funding of ₦10.1 billion for the National Gallery of Art and ₦8.4 billion for the Nigerian Film Corporation.
  • The National Council of Arts and Culture was allocated ₦7 billion.
  • The National Film and Video Censors Board received ₦4.4 billion, emphasising regulation and content oversight.
  • Institutions like the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, which promotes African identity, received ₦3.5 billion.

Enugu State recorded the sharpest IGR increase in 2024, growing over fivefold
  • Enugu led the country in IGR growth in 2024 with a 433% increase.
  • Bayelsa, Jigawa, Kano, and Osun also experienced large year-on-year increases, indicating widening fiscal activity across regions.
  • Lagos, Rivers, and the FCT recorded slower growth rates but still generated the largest total revenues.
  • The fastest growth often came from states focused on reforming tax systems or broadening local revenue sources, rather than from being traditionally big or wealthy states alone.

Lagos’ IGR in 2024 was over 3x more than all other South West states combined
  • Lagos drives most revenue in the South West, accounting for the clear majority of the region’s IGR.
  • Each geopolitical zone has one dominant state that shapes its revenue profile.
  • Fiscal capacity remains heavily skewed toward a few urban and resource-rich states.

Lagos State generated the vast majority of Nigeria's IGR at ₦1.3 trillion, accounting for over 35% of the ₦3.7 trillion total IGR
  • Nigeria’s total IGR in 2024 was ₦3.7 trillion.
  • Lagos State generated ₦1.3 trillion, accounting for over 35% of the national IGR.
  • Rivers State (₦317.3 billion) and the FCT, Abuja (₦282.4 billion) ranked second and third, respectively.
  • The South West led regionally with ₦1.7 trillion in total IGR.
  • The North East recorded the lowest regional IGR at ₦129.8 billion.
  • Economic disparity between regions remains wide, with Lagos alone outpacing entire regions.

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