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  • Since 2011, over ₦32.8 trillion has gone to Nigeria’s state governors from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). States from the South East have received ₦3.3 trillion combined, the least nationwide.

     

    This fund allocation is to ensure that all levels of government have the necessary funds to meet their financial obligations and to provide public services.

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    In 2012, the volume of Point of Sale (POS) transactions in Nigeria was nearly 2.6 million, valued at ₦48 billion. As of 2022, it had grown to nearly four billion transactions worth ₦41 trillion. The volume and value of POS transactions surged between 2020 and 2022.

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  • A Trend of Adult literacy rates of African countries

    Between 2018 and 2021, adult literacy rates across African nations exhibited significant disparities. Seychelles and South Africa led with literacy rates of 96% and 95%, respectively, indicating a high proportion of literate adults. Conversely, Chad had the lowest literacy rate during this period.

    These statistics underscore the uneven progress in educational attainment across Africa, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve literacy in lower-performing nations.

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    Africa's sanitation crisis is alarming, with 17 of the top 20 countries having the highest open defecation rates.

    Eritrea (67%), Niger (65%), and Chad (63%) lead, putting millions at risk of disease.

    Even Nigeria, the most populous African country, has 18% of its population practising it.

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  • The FAAC's revenue distribution from 2017 to August 2023 highlights the dominance of Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa states in allocations. Despite Lagos' economic prominence, it ranked fifth. Here is the distribution of revenue among states between 2017 and August 2023.

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    Nigeria was the seventh most populous nation in the world in 2020, with 206.1 million people. Projected to reach a population of 401.3 million by 2050, Nigeria will rank third after India (1st) and China (2nd). According to Institut national d'études démographiques' projections, Nigeria, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Egypt, Tanzania, and Kenya will be among the world’s top 20 most populous countries by 2050.

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    • The GDP contribution from the telecom sector increased from 14.13% in Q1 2023 to 16.36% in Q2 2024.
    • The highest contribution (16.36%) was seen in Q2 2024.
    • The telecom sector contributes significantly to GDP, maintaining values above 10% quarterly from Q1 2020 to Q3 2024.
    • The second quarter consistently contributed more to Nigeria’s GDP throughout the observed timeframe.
    • The first and second quarters of 2024 showed an improvement in the sector's contribution to GDP compared to the previous years.
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  • Only 10% of Nigerians earn above ₦100,000, according to the Nigerian Financial Services Market Report. This aligns with most reports about Nigeria, and it's in sharp contrast to the narratives online.
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  • A Trend of Adult literacy rates of African countries

    Between 2018 and 2021, adult literacy rates across African nations exhibited significant disparities. Seychelles and South Africa led with literacy rates of 96% and 95%, respectively, indicating a high proportion of literate adults. Conversely, Chad had the lowest literacy rate during this period.

    These statistics underscore the uneven progress in educational attainment across Africa, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve literacy in lower-performing nations.

    See more
Other Insights
 
  • France tops the world with 13 time zones, owing largely to its overseas territories spread across the globe.
  • The US and Russia follow closely, each spanning 11 time zones, reflecting their massive geographic spread.
  • In contrast, Africa remains highly unified, with just two countries, DR Congo and South Africa, operating two time zones each.
  • Most nations on the list, including Brazil, Mexico, and Spain, fall between 2–4 zones, underscoring how rare double-digit time zone coverage is.
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  • South Africa’s GDP per capita rose from $440 in 2000 to an all-time high of $2,692 in 2024.
  • Growth was relatively steady in the 2000s, with notable jumps after 2006 and again in the post-pandemic years.
  • Despite dips in 2008 (global financial crisis) and 2020 (COVID-19 shock), the economy showed resilience with quick rebounds.
  • By 2024, South Africa achieved its strongest per capita GDP on record, cementing its role as one of Africa’s leading middle-income economies.
  • The country recorded growth in 21 of the past 24 years.
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  • Algeria’s GDP per capita more than tripled in 25 years, rising from $1,772.9 in 2000 to $5,631.2 in 2024.
  • The 2000s boom saw rapid growth, peaking at $5,180.9 in 2008, fuelled by high oil and gas prices.
  • Between 2014 and 2016, GDP per capita fell from $6,094.7 to $4,425.0, reflecting oil price collapses and domestic fiscal strain.
  • After pandemic-era lows in 2020 ($3,743.5), Algeria rebounded to its second-highest level on record in 2024 ($5,631.2), regaining its regional standing.
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  • Egypt’s GDP per capita grew from $1,366 in 2000 to $3,339 in 2024, a 144% increase over 25 years.
  • The economy peaked at $4,233 in 2022, marking the highest point in the series before a two-year decline.
  • Sustained growth was driven by the 2000s and 2010s, with resilience after the 2008 financial crisis and Arab Spring disruptions.
  • The dip after 2022 reflects external pressures, currency adjustments, and inflationary challenges, though per capita levels remain well above early 2000s baselines.
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  • The United States dominates global natural gas production in 2024, contributing 1.03 trillion cubic metres (Tcm), nearly one-quarter of the world’s total.

  • Russia (0.63Tcm) and Iran (0.26Tcm) follow as the second and third largest producers.

  • China (0.25Tcm) and Canada (0.19Tcm) also feature strongly, rounding out the top five producers.

  • Collectively, these top five countries account for more than 50% of global production.

  • Emerging producers like Nigeria, Egypt, and Azerbaijan contribute significantly to the supply but remain far behind the leading nations.

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  • 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.

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  • Zimbabwe’s GDP per capita nearly quintupled since 2000, marking a 472% increase over 25 years.
  • The country's GDP per capita declined consistently from 2001 to 2008.
  • It soared to $3,448.1 in 2017, which is still the highest in the country's history.
  • The GDP per capita plummeted to $2,271.9 in 2019, recording a (34.1%) decrease.
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  • China continued to lead globally with the highest number of international scholars in the US, with almost 21% of the international scholars as of 2023/2024.
  • China has been the lead country with the highest number of scholars in the US globally in the last 24 years.
  • India is next after China, with 17,735 scholars in US who hailed from India making up 15.8% of the population.
  • Only 1% of the scholars in the US are from Nigeria
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  • Seychelles’ GDP per capita rose from $8.06k in 2000 to a peak of $19.14k in 2019, more than doubling in two decades.
  • After steady growth through the 2010s, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 cut GDP per capita to $14.04k, a 26% drop from 2019.
  • Recovery has been gradual, with GDP per capita rebounding to $18.26k in 2023, though still below the 2019 high.
  • By 2024, GDP per capita settled at $17.86k, showing resilience but reflecting ongoing global and domestic economic pressures.
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  • Global rugby participation grew by 11% in 2023, reaching 8.46 million players.
  • Female participation increased by 37%, showing the fastest growth in the sport.
  • Male participation also rose by 26%.
  • The substantial rise in female players signals rugby’s growing inclusivity.
  • The global rise suggests rugby is gaining ground beyond traditional rugby nations.
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  • Kenya's GDP per capita soared from $414.6 in 2000 to a significant $2206.1 in 2024, marking a 532% increase.
  • The country saw its largest single-year jump between 2006 and 2007, rising by 33.7% from $523.5 to $699.8.
  • Economic downturns were visible in 2020 (-1.7%) and 2023 (-7.5%), showing vulnerability to shocks.
  • Since 2020, GDP per capita has grown by 14.5%, with 2024 recording the highest value.
  • Kenya’s GDP per capita rose in 20 of the past 24 years, and declines occurred in only 4 years (2001, 2002, 2020, and 2023).
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  • Endeavour Mining leads with a 2,253.0 pence share price — the highest among the largest African firms on the LSE.
  • Investec ranks second at 544.4 pence, showing a wide gap from the leader.
  • Seplat Energy (255.5 pence) is the second-highest in the extractive industry after Endeavour Mining.
  • Airtel Africa (210.0 pence) is the top telecom firm on the list.
  • Guarantee Trust HoldCo has the lowest share price at 5.0 pence.
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  • Papua New Guinea remains unmatched: With 843 living languages, the Pacific nation continues to hold the title of the world’s most linguistically diverse country.
  • Nigeria tops Africa: Hosting 530 living languages, Nigeria ranks third globally and stands as Africa’s richest linguistic hub.
  • Indonesia (709) and India (454) are also in the top five, showcasing the dense cultural mosaic across Asia.
  • Even large, developed countries like the U.S. (239), Australia (225), and Brazil (222) make the list, proving that language diversity transcends geography and development.
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  • Lafarge Africa's revenue hit a decade-high of ₦697bn in 2024, reflecting a strong 71.7% year-on-year growth.
  • With ₦517bn in H1 2025 alone, Lafarge Africa has already achieved nearly 74% of 2024’s full-year revenue, signalling potential to surpass last year’s record if momentum continues.
  • The company has experienced sharp swings, including steep drops in 2016 (-17.8%) and 2019 (-30.9%).
  • Despite volatility, Lafarge has grown from ₦260bn in 2014 to ₦697bn in 2024, showing long-term expansion.
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  • South Africa’s share of Africa’s GDP has averaged around 20% since 1960.
  • The country’s relative dominance peaked in the early 1990s at nearly 28% of continental GDP.
  • Nominal GDP grew steadily from $8.7 billion in 1960 to over $400 billion in 2024.
  • South Africa’s share of Africa’s GDP has generally declined in recent decades as other African economies expanded faster.
  • Despite the relative decline, South Africa remains one of Africa’s largest and most influential economies.
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  • Microfinance deposits in Kenya grew at only 1.66% CAGR between 2014 and 2024.
  • The peak occurred in 2021 at KSh 50.2B, after which deposits began a steady decline.
  • 2015 (+13.2%) and 2020 (+12.3%) posted the strongest year-on-year growth rates.
  • The sector saw consecutive contractions from 2022 (-7.3%), 2023 (-5.7%), to 2024 (-2.0%).
  • Despite small rebounds in 2018 (+7.3%) and 2019 (+12.3%), the long-term trend is weak.
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  • Microfinance banks in Kenya recorded their last profit in 2015 (KSh 0.6B) before sliding into losses.
  • The sector’s losses deepened from KSh -0.4B in 2016 to KSh -3.5B in 2024.
  • The steepest single-year decline occurred in 2020, when losses increased by 560.8% to KSh -2.2B.
  • Even in recovery years like 2019 (KSh -0.3B) and 2021 (KSh -0.7B), the sector remained in losses.
  • Over the 10 years, profitability fell at a -212.1% CAGR, reflecting a structural collapse.
  • Since 2016, there has been no single year of profit, highlighting sustained weakness.
  • The worsening losses mirror other sector struggles, such as stagnant deposits, weak asset growth, and rising NPLs.
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  • At independence in 1960, Nigeria contributed about 10% of Africa’s GDP, establishing itself early as one of the continent’s largest economies.
  • Nigeria’s share peaked at 31% in 1981 during the oil boom, highlighting the dramatic impact of natural resources on the economy.
  • Between the mid-1980s and 2000s, Nigeria’s share fluctuated significantly, dropping to 9.2% in 1999 due to political instability, economic mismanagement, and external shocks.
  • By 2024, Nigeria’s share fell to 7.1%, despite a GDP of $187.8 billion, showing slower relative growth compared to other African economies and the ongoing need for economic diversification.
  • This share reflects Nigeria’s relative position in Africa’s economy over time, showing how it moved in relation to the growth of the rest of the continent.
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