Bite-sized Insights about
 
Providing you with data-based insights about things happening around you.
Popular Insights
  • India has been the World Bank's largest debtor for over 50 years, with a debt of $38.3 billion as of 2022.

    Five Asian nations — India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China — owe a combined $111.2 billion, or 27% of the World Bank’s total debt.

    Nigeria, Africa's largest World Bank debtor, ranks 10th, with nearly #14 billion in debt.

    See more

    Between September 2022 to August 2023, 3 of Nigeria's mobile Internet providers saw a combined 8 million increase in their active mobile Internet subscribers, with MTN gaining the most, followed by Globacom and Airtel. 9mobile on the other hand, recorded almost 1 million decline.

    See more
  • 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

    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.

    See more
  • 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.

    See more
    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.

    See more

  • The value of transactions conducted over Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) in Nigeria in 2021 was ₦5.2 trillion, 73% higher than 2020 figures. The total transaction value dropped by ₦685 billion in 2022, a 13.3% decline. The transaction volume also witnessed a 6% decline.

    See more
  • 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.
    See more
  • 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
  • Rwanda is a global leader in gender-inclusive governance, with nearly two-thirds (63.8%) of its parliament occupied by women.
  • Latin American nations dominate the list, with Cuba (55.7%), Nicaragua (55.0%), and Mexico (50.2%) showing strong female political participation.
  • The UAE stands out as the only Middle Eastern country in the top 10, achieving 50% female representation.
  • Despite being a high-income European nation, Monaco has the lowest representation among the top 10, with women holding only 45.8% of seats.
See more
  • Only 4 countries have ever topped global oil production since 1973: the US, USSR, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.
  • The USSR and Saudi Arabia each led for 17 years, while Russia held 9 and the U.S. reclaimed the top with 8 years, mostly after the shale boom.
  • Top producers have peaked at 9–12 million barrels/day, but the US once dropped as low as 5 million in the 2000s.
  • Nigeria peaked at 2.5 million barrels/day in 2005 and 2011, but never reached the top five.
  • Global crude oil production grew by over 26 million barrels per day between 1973 and 2023—an increase of nearly 47% over 50 years.
See more

Key takeaways:

  • Revenue grew by 402% over a decade, from ₦14 billion in 2015 to ₦70 billion in 2024.
  • The company witnessed an extraordinary post-pandemic recovery, with 111% revenue growth in 2021.
  • There was a consistent strong performance from 2021-2024, with revenue more than tripling.
  • Transcorp Hotels recorded a profit of ₦14.9 billion in 2024, representing a 326% increase from 2015.
  • Despite setbacks, Transcorp Hotels’ performance improved notably from 2021 onward, marking strong growth.
See more

Key takeaways:

  • Despite a profit after tax record of ₦65.5 billion in 2024, Oando Plc recorded a negative growth rate from 2015.
  • The company faced significant profit losses for several years, with notable improvements in 2021 and 2024.
  • Profit after tax fluctuated, with a notable improvement in 2024, reaching ₦65.49 million.
  • The year-on-year growth rate of 148% in 2022 indicates great market positioning.
  • From ₦477.1 billion in 2020 to ₦4.1 trillion in 2024, Oando Plc's revenues increased by 764%.
See more
The average amount of time (in hours and minutes) that internet users worldwide aged 16+ spend with each medium or device each day (as of Jan 2025)
  • With nearly four hours daily, mobile internet is the primary way people interact with content.
  • At 3 hours and 13 minutes daily, TV remains relevant but is being outpaced by mobile consumption.
  • With 2 hours and 21 minutes daily, platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X are where people spend much of their mobile time.
  • Digital press consumption (58 minutes daily) outpaces traditional print (42 minutes), signalling a continued decline in physical media.
  • Users spend 1 hour 25 minutes on music streaming, but gaming consoles only see 1 hour and 3 minutes, showing that on-the-go entertainment is preferred.
  • With podcasts at 52 minutes and radio at 51 minutes, audio content is still relevant but not as dominant as video and social media.
See more
Cellular mobile connections compared with total population (Percentage per region), as of Jan. 2025
  • Southern Africa is the global leader in mobile connectivity, with 183% mobile connections compared to its population, significantly ahead of all other regions.
  • The world’s most connected regions are outside North America and Western Europe, with Eastern Europe (144%), Eastern Asia (133%), and Southern Europe (131%) leading the charge after Southern Africa.
  • Africa is deeply divided in mobile adoption. While Southern Africa dominates, Eastern Africa (79%) and Middle Africa (66%) have a lower penetration.
  • Some regions have more mobile connections than people. The fact that multiple regions exceed 100% connectivity means that many individuals own multiple SIM cards, a trend driven by business needs, mobile money, and telecom competition.
  • Western Africa, at 85% connectivity, is doing better than Eastern Africa but still lags behind the global average, signaling potential for more growth in mobile adoption.
See more
Share of individuals in each generation (January 2025)
  • Generation Alpha is the largest generation, making up 24.4% of the global population.
  • Gen Z and Millennials still hold strong influence, comprising 22.9% and 21.2% of the global population.
  • The Baby Boomer generation (12.8%) is gradually declining, which will impact industries like retirement services, healthcare, and wealth distribution.
  • The Silent Generation is now just 2% of the population, highlighting the demographic shift away from the older generations.
  • Generation X, at 16.7%, remains a crucial but often overlooked group, balancing leadership roles in business and governance while supporting both older and younger generations.
  • The rise of Generation Alpha signals the dawn of an even more digital-native world, shaping the future of education, marketing, and work environments.
  • With Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha making up nearly 70% of the population, the global workforce, economy, and social dynamics will see rapid transformation in the coming years.
See more
Percentage of internet users globally aged 16+ who consume each media type (as of Q3 2024)
  • Social media is not optional; it’s universal, with 93% usage globally.
  • Traditional broadcast TV still sees 89.7% usage, and streaming TV (77.1%) isn’t far behind.
  • Individuals consume online news more than physical newspapers.
  • 66.4% still tune in to radio, showing that audio content still has a loyal base.
  • At 65.3% usage, platforms like Spotify and Apple Music are not just for entertainment; they’re part of people’s routines.
  • With 63.7% global engagement, podcasts are now a core part of modern media usage.
See more
Nigeria's capital expenditure as a percentage of GDP (1981–2024)
  • From an average of 4.33% in 1981–2001 to just 1.58% in 2002–2024, Nigeria’s capital expenditure as a percentage of GDP has more than halved.
  • The early 2000s marked a major turning point. After peaking at 9.1% in 1999, capital spending nosedived, rarely surpassing 2% in the last two decades.
  • Recent figures show Nigeria’s capital expenditure hovering around 1–2% of GDP.
  • The data suggests a move away from infrastructure investments, potentially prioritising recurrent expenditure such as salaries and overheads.
  • Low capital spending can slow infrastructure development, limiting productivity, economic expansion, and foreign investment attractiveness.
  • If Nigeria is to achieve sustainable growth, there needs to be a renewed focus on capital investments to drive industrialisation, improve public services, and create jobs.
See more
Total funding raised in East Africa, excluding exits (2019 - 2024)
  • Kenya is the absolute leader in startup funding, with $3.3 billion raised in the past six years.
  • The rest of East Africa is way behind, with Tanzania ($286M), Uganda ($183M), and Rwanda ($91M) being the next in line. But collectively, they don’t even match 20% of the funding Kenya received.
  • The total funding raised across East Africa from 2019 to 2024 is $3.94 billion, which means Kenyan startups alone secured more than 8 out of every 10 dollars invested in the region.
  • Investor confidence is highly concentrated in Kenya, largely due to its well-developed venture capital ecosystem, startup accelerators, and government support for innovation.
See more
Kenya's share of startup funds raised in East Africa, excluding exits (2019 - 2024)
  • Kenya dominates East Africa’s startup funding, securing over 83% of all funds raised between 2019 and 2024 — a clear indication of its position as the region’s startup capital.
  • Kenya’s startup funding share has remained consistently above 80% since 2020.
  • 2023 and 2024 saw Kenya secure nearly 89% of all funds, marking its strongest position.
  • Other East African countries combined have not received more than 30% of the funding in any year since 2019.
  • The lowest share of funding Kenya secured was in 2019 (69.81%).
See more
Percentage of internet users globally aged 16+ who own each kind of device (January 2025)
  • Smartphones are nearly universal, with only 2.2% of internet users worldwide not owning one.
  • Laptop and desktop ownership (58.3%) lags behind smartphones, reinforcing the shift toward mobile-first usage for internet access.
  • Smart TVs (48.2%) are closing in on traditional computing devices, showing how entertainment consumption is increasingly digital and on-demand.
  • Wearables are rising, with smartwatches (25.8%) and smart wristbands (12.9%) becoming more mainstream, signalling a growing appetite for health and fitness tracking.
  • Gaming consoles (18.9%) and smart home devices (17.4%) have niched but steady adoption, appealing to entertainment and home automation enthusiasts.
  • Virtual Reality (VR) remains a specialty product, with just 4.7% ownership.
  • For businesses, the mobile-first reality is non-negotiable —any service, product, or content must prioritise accessibility via smartphones to reach the widest audience.
See more
1 44 45 46 47 48 109
  • Inflation jumped by 13.4 percentage points, from 9.0% pre-Buhari to 22.4% post-Buhari.
  • The value of the naira] depreciated by over 235% during Buhari’s tenure, ending at ₦645.2/$.
  • Total public debt increased nearly 7x, from ₦12.6 trillion in 2015 to ₦87.4 trillion in 2023.
  • Nigeria’s GDP growth rate averaged just 1.24% annually between 2015 and 2023.
  • Foreign reserves peaked at $44.5 billion in 2018 but dropped to $38.3 billion by 2023.
  • FDI inflows showed volatility, with the highest being $3.5 billion in 2021 and the lowest at $0.8 billion.
  • Nigeria's GDP growth rate was modest, with the country experiencing a recession in 2016.
Read more
  • Guinea-Bissau showed the highest agricultural contribution to its GDP at 36.8% in 2024.
  • Contributions range widely, with high reliance seen in Comoros (36.6%) and Ethiopia (34.9%), contrasting with lower percentages in DR Congo (17.1%) and Angola (16.4%).
  • Agriculture, forestry, and fishing contributed a notable 20.4% to Nigeria's GDP in 2024.
  • Countries with high agricultural GDP contributions are predominantly located in West and East Africa.
Read more
  • Nigeria is the world’s top yam producer since the 1980s.
  • West Africa supplies over 95% of global yam output.
  • Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have grown steadily in the rankings.
  • Non-African countries play a very small role today.
  • Nigeria exports very little yam despite massive production.
Read more
  • Libya leads Africa with 48.4 billion barrels of recoverable oil, the continent’s highest.
  • Nigeria ranks second with 37.3 billion barrels, accounting for about 27% of reserves among top holders.
  • Algeria holds 12.2 billion barrels, rounding out the top three and far ahead of other nations.
  • Sudan, Egypt, and Angola each contribute between 2.5 and 5 billion barrels, showing smaller but notable reserves.
Read more
  • South Africa leads the continent with a vast 20,986km rail network, nearly triple the size of Sudan’s, the second-largest.
  • Nigeria’s rail infrastructure measures 3,798km, ranking it behind Kenya (3,819km) and DR Congo (4,007km).
  • North African countries like Egypt and Algeria maintain significant rail mileage, exceeding 4,000km each.
  • Southern Africa dominates the top five, with Mozambique and Zimbabwe also featuring prominently.
Read more
  • Zambia recorded its highest-ever FDI inflow in 2013 at $2.10 billion.
  • After dipping to a negative inflow of -$0.07 billion in 2022, Zambia recovered to $1.24 billion in 2024.
  • The country experienced its first billion-dollar inflow in 2007, marking a turning point in foreign investment.
  • FDI inflow was consistently below $0.5 billion throughout the 1990s, indicating limited investor confidence during that period.
Read more
1 44 45 46 47 48 217

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Please fill the form below
Contact Form Demo
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