Inflows of foreign direct investment into Africa decreased by 44% from 2021 to 2022

Global inflows of foreign direct investment fell by 12% in 2022, and Africa saw a 44% decline from $80 billion in 2021 to $45 billion. According to UNCTAD data, only two of Africa's five major regions — North and East Africa — saw a rise in FDI in 2022.

Source:

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

Period:

2021 - 2022
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South Africa has 1 in every 3 millionaires in Africa
  • South Africa dominates with 41,100 millionaires, accounting for more than 1 in 3 African millionaires, far ahead of any other nation.
  • Egypt (14,800) and Morocco (7,500) round out the top three, highlighting North Africa’s wealth concentration.
  • Nigeria (7,200) and Kenya (6,800) confirm West and East Africa’s growing wealth hubs, though still far below South Africa.
  • Mauritius (4,800) and Seychelles (500) rank surprisingly high relative to population size, showing their role as finance and wealth management hubs.
Nearly one in six of Africa’s goats are in Nigeria, the continent’s leader since 1998
  • Africa’s goat population grew from 94 million in 1961 to 522 million in 2023 — more than a fivefold increase.
  • The continent’s share of the world’s goats rose from 27% in 1961 to 46% in 2023.
  • Nigeria leads with nearly 89 million goats in 2023, holding the top spot since 1998.
  • Ethiopia, Chad, Sudan, Niger, and Mali consistently rank among the largest goat producers.
  • Around 70% of Africa’s goats are concentrated in the top ten countries each year.
South Africa’s digital service imports still outweighed exports as of 2024, even after 300% growth since 2005
  • South Africa’s digital service imports consistently overshadowed export earnings, despite exports growing by over 300% since 2005.
  • South Africa exported $76.418 billion in digital services between 2005 and 2024.
  • Imports during the same period reached $113.67 billion.
  • The result was a trade deficit of $37.252 billion in over 20 years.
  • Exports rose from just $1.71 billion in 2005 to $7.05 billion in 2024.
Ghana recorded $53.00B in digital services imports against $49.1B in exports in 20 years
  • Ghana exported $49.11 billion in digital services between 2005 and 2024.
  • Digital services imports recorded during the same period was $53.00 billion.
  • Ghana recorded a $3.9 billion trade deficit across the two decades.
  • Exports grew from just $78 million in 2005 to $5.18 billion in 2024.
Since 2005, Egypt’s digital service imports have consistently exceeded exports, creating a $56b deficit
  • Egypt spends twice as much on digital services imports than it earns from exports, with $8.31b on imports and $4.03b from exports recorded in 2024.
  • Egypt exported $46.007 billion in digital services between 2005 and 2024.
  • Imports during the same period reached $101.98 billion.
  • The result was a trade deficit of $55.973 billion in over 20 years.
  • Export earnings rose from just $1.91 billion in 2005 to $4.03 billion in 2024.
Over the past 20 years, Morocco has maintained a consistent trade surplus in digital services, totaling $26.44 billion
  • Morocco recorded a total of $61.75 billion digital services trade exports and $35.31 billion imports, revealing a staggering $26.44 billion trade profit in 20 years.
  • Morocco has always been the leading country in Africa as far as digital services trade is concerned.
  • From 2005-2024, Morocco digital services exports have always outpaced imports.
  • Morocco digital export earnings have grown from $1.11b in 2005 to $6.74b in 2024, revealing over 500% growth in 20 years.
  • Imports during the same time-frame reached 3.17b from $780m in 2025.
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