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  • Seychelles has the most powerful passport in Africa in 2023, with visa-free access to 155 countries and territories, followed by Mauritius (148). Nigerian passport holders have visa-free access to 46 countries, one of the lowest in Africa. Africa's most powerful passports in 2023 by the number of travel destinations passport holders can travel to visa-free:

    Seychelles (155), Mauritius (148), South Africa (106), Botswana (89), Namibia (81), Lesotho (79), Eswatini (77), Kenya (76), Malawi (75), Tanzania (73).

    Africa's least powerful passports in 2023 by the number of travel destinations passport holders can travel to visa-free:
    Liberia (51), Djibouti (49), Ethiopia (47), Nigeria (46), South Sudan (46), DR Congo (45), Eritrea (44), Sudan (44), Libya (41), Somalia (35).

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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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  • 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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    Inflation rate in Nigeria increased to 31.7% in February 2024. Nigeria has the 13th highest inflation rate out of 186 countries and territories as of February 2024.

    The data showcases Argentina leading with 276%, followed by Lebanon and Syria. Seven of the top fifteen are African.

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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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    Top ten African countries by estimated number of films produced annually

    The Nigerian movie industry, mainly financed via public or private funding and international grants, produces the most films in Africa, yearly. Nigeria produced more than double the number of films that the Ghanaian and Kenyan movie industries produce annually.

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  • Between 2013 and 2022, Nigeria exported crude oil worth ₦123 trillion, with yearly figures ranging from ₦6.8 trillion to ₦21.1 trillion, and the highest (₦21.1 trillion) recorded in 2022. This chart shows the annual values.

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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.

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Other Insights

Key takeaways:

  • The United States holds the largest national gold reserves in 2024, totalling 8,133.46 tonnes.
  • Western European countries in the top ten list collectively hold 9,892.76 tonnes of gold reserves.
  • China, India, and Japan are the only Asian countries in the top 10, together holding 4,001.71 tonnes.
  • The Russian Federation is the leading gold reserve holder in Central and Eastern Europe, with 2,332.74 tonnes.
  • All countries in the top ten list maintain at least 600 tonnes of gold reserves.
  • The total gold reserve held by the top ten countries amounted to 24,360.67 tonnes.
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Key takeaways:

  • China leads all nations with total reserves of $3.46 trillion while holding 5.53% of its share in gold reserves.
  • The top 15 countries collectively hold a total reserve of $10.78 trillion.
  • Despite being the global leader in gold reserves, the United States ranks third in total reserves.
  • The largest share of the United States' total reserves is from its gold reserve holdings of 74.97%.
  • Countries in the top fifteen list hold at least $236.9 billion each in total reserves.
  • The United States, France, and Italy have more than 70% of their total reserve holdings in gold.
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Key Takeaways:

  • Ghana led the continent in gold production in 2023, producing 135.11 tonnes, 13.5% of Africa’s total.
  • Four countries (Ghana, Mali, South Africa, and Burkina Faso) each produced over 95 tonnes, together accounting for 443 tonnes or 44.1% of the continent’s output.
  • West African countries dominated the rankings, with eight nations from the region among the top 15 producers.
  • The West African countries in the top 15 combined contributed 525.55 tonnes, more than half (52.3%) of Africa's total gold production.
  • South Africa ranked third in Africa with 104.29 tonnes.
  • Burkina Faso ranked fourth while contributing almost 10% of Africa’s gold production.
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Key Takeaways:

  • In 2023, Africa was the world’s leading gold-producing region, with a total output of 1,003.98 tonnes.
  • Asia followed with 661.30 tonnes, representing 18.1% of the world’s gold output.
  • The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) produced 570.90 tonnes, making up 15.7% of the global total.
  • North America and Central & South America contributed 485.17 tonnes and 542.13 tonnes, respectively.
  • Oceania was a key producer with 343.29 tonnes, or 9.4% of global output.
  • Europe contributed the least, producing only 39.30 tonnes, which is about 1.1% of the total.
  • Altogether, global gold production reached 3,646.07 tonnes in 2023.
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Tunisia’s official exchange rate (Tunisian dinar per US$), 2016 - 2024
  • The Tunisian dinar stood at TND 2.15 per US$ in 2016 and has since depreciated to TND 3.11 per US$ in 2024.
  • Between 2016 and 2019, the dinar saw a strong depreciation.
  • 2020 marked a turning point with a 4.16% appreciation, the first notable currency strengthening in the period observed.
  • From 2022 onward, the exchange rate has stabilised closely around TND 3.10 to TND 3.11 per US$, with minimal yearly changes of 0.08% and 0.04%.
  • The largest year-on-year depreciation occurred in 2017 with a 12.63% change.
  • Despite the earlier years of high volatility, Tunisia’s currency performance in the last three years suggests better monetary management and external stability.
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Countries with the worst African Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI), 2024
  • Somalia has the lowest AIDI score in Africa at 7.10, reflecting extremely poor infrastructure across all sectors.
  • South Sudan (7.38) and Niger (8.12) rank slightly higher, showing similarly weak infrastructure profiles.
  • Ethiopia (13.09) and the Central African Republic (13.23), though more advanced than others on the list, still score under 15.
  • Nigeria's AIDI score of 25.70, while not high by global standards, is more than three times higher than Somalia’s, indicating major disparities in infrastructure across the continent.
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  • An average of ~38,000 RSA accounts use the 25% withdrawal option each year.
  • Total amounts tapped rose from ₦19.1B (2019) to ₦35.5B (2023) as balances grew.
  • Total amount withdrawn from 2017 through Q3 2024 was ₦198.3B.
  • Despite rising amounts, the count of withdrawals fell from ~57,000 in 2017–18 to ~38,000 since 2019.
  • Amount withdrawn jumped by 32% in 2023.
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  • Global cotton production grew by over 160%, from about 9.5 million tonnes in 1961 to 24.8 million tonnes in 2022.
  • China’s Reign: 41 years at number one. Biggest output: 7.62M tonnes in 2007.
  • USA’s Era: 13 years at the top. Peak production: 5.20M tonnes in 2005.
  • USSR’s Legacy: 5 years crowned. Best year: 2.89M tonnes in 1981.
  • India’s Late Charge: Only 3 years at number one, but a huge 6.13M tonnes in 2020.
  • Shift to Asia: In the early decades, USA dominated; now, it’s mostly China and India running the game.
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  • Egypt dominated African cotton production for decades, from the 1960s to the early 2000s, standing far ahead of other African countries in both volume and quality.
  • The early 2000s marked a major turning point, as West African countries — especially Burkina Faso and Mali — began to overtake Egypt in total production.
  • Burkina Faso emerged as the new cotton leader between 2005 and 2015, topping production in key years like 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2012–2015, and later reclaiming the top spot in 2020 and 2022.
  • Mali built its cotton strength after 2015, becoming Africa’s number one producer multiple times, peaking at over 334,000 tonnes in 2019.
  • Benin and Côte d’Ivoire quietly closed the gap throughout the 2010s, consistently ranking in the top three, even though they didn’t dominate the number one spot.
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Top 10 countries by African Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI), 2024
  • Seychelles leads Africa with a near-perfect AIDI score of 99.77.
  • Egypt and Libya follow with strong performances of 91.43 and 85.84, respectively.
  • Tunisia ranks 6th with a score of 74.18, showing consistent infrastructure growth.
  • Morocco and Algeria, despite being major economies, scored below 75.
  • Botswana rounds out the top 10 with a score of 42.13, nearly double Nigeria’s score.
  • Nigeria, despite its economic size, scored just 25.70, far below the continental leaders, highlighting major infrastructure gaps.
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Seychelles score - African Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI), 2003 - 2024
  • Seychelles' AIDI score more than doubled between 2003 (47.43) and 2024 (99.77).
  • The score crossed the 70-point mark in 2009 and jumped past 90 in 2013.
  • Between 2012 and 2024, the country maintained an AIDI score above 89, showing long-term infrastructure strength.
  • From 2003 to 2008, the score rose steadily each year, averaging more than 2 points annually.
  • The last five years (2020–2024) showed minimal fluctuation, with scores above 98 every year.
  • This performance positioned Seychelles as Africa’s most infrastructure-ready nation in 2024.
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Nigeria's score - African Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI), 2003 - 2024
  • Goodluck Jonathan's era (2010–2015) delivered the highest AIDI growth, with a CAGR of 6.84%, more than double that of his successor.
  • Muhammadu Buhari’s administration saw steady but slower growth, with a CAGR of 2.63%, increasing the score from 20.60 in 2016 to 25.70 in 2024.
  • Musa Yar’Adua’s brief tenure (2007–2010) still managed a solid CAGR of 4.26%, indicating promising momentum that was cut short.
  • Nigeria's AIDI score rose from 8.61 in 2003 to 25.70 in 2024, nearly tripling in two decades.
  • Obasanjo’s tenure saw the slowest growth, with only a 2.59% CAGR, suggesting limited infrastructure expansion in the early 2000s.
  • The fastest absolute annual increase occurred between 2010 and 2014, when scores jumped by over 2 points per year.
  • Despite steady growth, Nigeria's 2024 score of 25.70 still places it far from top performers in Africa, showing that significant infrastructure gaps remain.
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  • 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.
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  • The United States remains the undisputed leader with 589 active rigs, accounting for nearly a third of all rigs worldwide in 2024.
  • Canada (162 rigs) and Iran (117 rigs) follow as the second and third highest contributors to global drilling activity.
  • Middle Eastern producers dominate the top 10, with Kuwait (80), UAE (73), Saudi Arabia (70), Iraq (62), and Oman (50) collectively operating 335 rigs.
  • Nigeria ranks 15th globally with 31 active rigs, making it one of only two African nations in the global top 20.
  • The top 10 countries account for over 75% of the world’s active rigs, reflecting the continued concentration of drilling infrastructure in a handful of key oil-producing regions.
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  • The world’s total proven recoverable crude oil reserves stand at 1.57 trillion barrels in 2024.
  • Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and Iran collectively hold over 50% of these reserves, with 303.2B, 267.2B, and 208.6B barrels respectively.
  • Nigeria ranks 10th globally with 37.3 billion barrels, placing it ahead of other major producers like Kazakhstan, China, and Brazil.
  • The majority of the largest reserves are concentrated in Middle Eastern and South American countries, with only a few top holders located in North America, Africa, and Asia.
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  • India dominates global banana output with 36.6 million tonnes, accounting for over a third of total production among the top 10 countries.
  • China (11.7M) and Indonesia (9.34M) round out the top three, contributing significantly to Asia’s dominance in banana farming.
  • Nigeria ranks 4th globally, producing 7.3 million tonnes, slightly ahead of Ecuador and Brazil.
  • Africa is well represented, with Nigeria, Angola, and Tanzania collectively contributing 15.86 million tonnes, or about 16% of the top 10 output.
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  • 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
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  • Nigeria imported $281 million worth of generator sets in 2024.
  • China remained the dominant supplier, accounting for $195 million, or nearly 70% of total imports.
  • Other top suppliers included India ($20.6M), Germany ($15.4M), and South Korea ($16.5M).
  • Compared to 2023, imports from China dipped slightly (from $202M to $195M), and other countries like Germany and India also saw declines.
  • The data captures a wide range of generator types — petrol, diesel, wind-powered, and rotary converters — under HS Code 8502.
  • Mirror data reflects only officially reported trade and excludes informal or undocumented imports.
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