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  • Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa lead other African countries in the number of visa-free countries their citizens can visit globally. Here are the most powerful passports in Africa by the number of visa-free countries citizens can visit in 2021.

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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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  • As of the end of September 2023, Starlink Nigeria had amassed a customer base of 11,207 active subscribers, growing 66% from 6,756 in June. It placed 4th in the market after Spectranet (113,747), Tizeti Network (19,126), and ipNX Nigeria (14,871).

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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
Share of people living in Africa by region as of January 2025
  • Eastern Africa is the most populous region, making up 33.09% of Africa’s total population, with over 507 million people.
  • Together, Eastern and Western Africa house over 63% of Africa’s total population, indicating where much of the continent’s human capital and economic activity will be concentrated.
  • Northern Africa has 274.1 million people (17.89%), while Central Africa has 216.3 million (14.11%), placing them in the mid-range of Africa’s population distribution.
  • Southern Africa is by far the least populous region, contributing just 4.8% (73.6 million people) to Africa’s 1.5 billion total.
  • The population contrast across regions highlights key differences in urbanisation, economic opportunities, and development needs.
  • Understanding Africa’s population distribution is crucial for businesses, policymakers, and investors, as future economic growth, consumer markets, and labour forces will be heavily influenced by these demographic trends.
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The number of people living in each region globally as of January 2025
  • Asia remains the world's population giant, housing nearly 59% of the global population.
  • Africa’s population boom is accelerating, contributing 18.7% of the world’s people.
  • Europe is shrinking in global demographic weight, making up only 9.09% of the world’s people.
  • Oceania remains sparsely populated, with just 0.57% of the global population.
  • Demographic trends will shape economic power, as nations with younger populations could become economic engines if properly harnessed.
  • Urbanisation and resource allocation will become critical, especially in Asia and Africa, where rising populations will put pressure on housing, food, and infrastructure.
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Share of individuals globally in each age group (January 2025)
  • Nearly half of the global population is aged between 20 and 54, making this group the primary driver of economic activities worldwide.
  • Individuals under 19 years old make up 32.9% of the total global population, highlighting the need for sustained investments in education and child welfare.
  • Over 19% of the population is aged 55 and above, emphasising the need for healthcare, retirement planning, and age-friendly policies.
  • With 2.10 billion people, the 35-54 group represents the backbone of global leadership, corporate decision-making, and financial stability.
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Key Takeaways:

  • In 2007/08, personal income tax (PIT) contributed 29.46% of total tax revenue, while corporate income tax (CIT) added a substantial 24.46%.
  • The share of personal income tax in tax revenue rose by 27% from 2007/08 to 2023/24.
  • Corporate income tax contribution declined by 26% from 2007/08 to 2023/24.
  • In 2019/20, personal income tax made the largest contribution to tax revenue (38.9%), a 32% rise from the 2007/08 contribution.
  • Other taxes showed minor variations, averaging around 19% of total tax revenue.
  • Personal income tax reached its peak contribution at 38.92% in 2019/20 before dropping by 4% in 2023/24.
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Key Takeaways:

  • Nestlé’s dividends increase year after year was highest in 2018 and 2019 at ₦17.83 billion and ₦12.68 billion, respectively.
  • The declared dividends reached a peak of ₦55.49 billion in 2020, while the lowest was recorded at ₦15.06 billion in 2016.
  • In recent years, Nestlé Nigeria Plc has shown a declining trend in declared dividends.
  • Dividends decreased by nearly 14%, 17%, and 28% in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively, compared to the previous years.
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Key takeaways:

  • Nestlé Nigeria's income tax contributions rose from ₦5.6 billion in 2015 to ₦57 billion in 2024.
  • In 2024, the company saw an extraordinary 132% rise in taxes compared to the previous year.
  • Despite facing economic hurdles during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nestlé ensured that its tax contributions remained above ₦21 billion annually from 2020 to 2022.
  • The significant spike in 2024 was mainly due to a considerable loss before tax, driven by heightened finance costs stemming from the devaluation of the Naira.
  • Nestlé Nigeria's 144% income tax growth in 2016 is the highest in the past ten years.
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Borrowing costs in African countries (2008, 2019, and 2024)
  • Africa now spends 27.5% of revenue on interest payments, nearly 4 times higher than in 2008.
  • The debt burden is rising faster than economic growth as interest payments as a percentage of GDP grew from 5.4% in 2008 to 8.2% in 2024, showing increasing financial strain.
  • Effective interest rates have more than tripled from 1.4% in 2008 to 5.0% in 2024, making debt less affordable.
  • Between 2008 and 2019, the ratio of interest to revenue rose by 12.2 percentage points, and in five years (2019–2024), it surged by another 8.5 percentage points.
  • As borrowing costs rise, the risk of defaults and fiscal crises in African economies grows, making financial stability a concern.
  • More money spent on debt means less for roads, hospitals, and schools, slowing down long-term economic progress.
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Countries projected to have the lowest nominal GDP (2025)
 
  • With a projected GDP of $80 million, Tuvalu ranks as the smallest economy globally, producing less in a year than many corporations earn in a day.
  • Even when put together, these small economies still fall far behind the economic output of many mid-sized countries or cities.
  • Nigeria’s $199.72 billion GDP overshadows the economies of these nations.
  • Many of the world’s smallest economies are Pacific and Caribbean island nations, which often depend on tourism, remittances, and international aid.
  • With limited industries and small populations, these economies are highly vulnerable to external shocks like climate change, supply chain disruptions, or shifts in global tourism trends.
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Age (in years) of African nations since independence (top 10 and bottom 10)
  • Gaining independence in 1847, Liberia has been free for 177 years, long before most African nations began their fight for sovereignty.
  • With only 13 years of independence, South Sudan remains the newest nation on the continent, still navigating the challenges of nation-building.
  • The difference between Liberia and South Sudan is 164 years, showing the vast timeline over which African nations gained independence.
  • The majority of African nations secured sovereignty between the 1950s and 1970s, marking the height of the decolonisation movement.
  • Countries like Zimbabwe (1980), Namibia (1990), and Eritrea (1993) faced prolonged struggles against colonial rule.
  • Despite Liberia’s long years of independence, it has faced civil wars and economic instability, showing that the length of sovereignty doesn’t always translate to political or economic strength.
  • While sovereignty marks a historic milestone, many African nations, especially younger ones like South Sudan, continue to grapple with political, economic, and developmental challenges even decades after gaining independence.
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Key takeaways:

  • BUA Foods saw a significant profit increase between Q1 2021 and Q4 2024, with notable highs in 2024.
  • In Q3 2023, there was a drastic drop in profits, which was subsequently followed by a robust recovery.
  • The highest profit before tax was recorded in Q3 2024 at ₦78.47 billion.
  • Quarterly profits varied, ranging from as low as ₦2.02 billion to as high as ₦78.47 billion.
  • A significant turning point occurred in 2024, with quarterly profits consistently surpassing ₦60 billion.
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Key takeaways:

  • The most significant growth was observed in 2024, with operating profit reaching a record high of ₦174.97 billion in Q4.
  • Despite experiencing some fluctuations each quarter, the company displayed resilience and a strong capacity for scaling.
  • BUA Foods showed consistent improvement in operating profits year over year.
  • Quarterly operating profits ranged from around ₦20 billion in 2021 to nearly ₦175 billion in Q4 2024.
  • A major breakthrough occurred in 2024, with quarterly operating profits consistently exceeding ₦99 billion.
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Key takeaways:

  • BUA Foods Plc's turnover rose from ₦70.2 billion in Q1 2021 to ₦437.4 billion in Q4 2024.
  • The organisation experienced steady quarterly increases throughout all periods.
  • A notable spike was observed in 2024, with quarterly turnover consistently above ₦315 billion.
  • The fourth quarter of 2024 marked a peak turnover of ₦437.4 billion.
  • In terms of quarterly growth, Q1 2024 recorded the highest rate at 75%.
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  • June 2025 PMI: 51.6, down from 52.7 in May — marking a three-month slowdown in growth.
  • Still 2.99% above June 2024 levels, when PMI was 50.1 — confirming year-on-year improvement.
  • The June dip reflects subdued demand and persistent inflation, echoing broader market sentiment.
  • A PMI above 50 signals expansion; Nigeria’s figure signals ongoing growth, though losing speed.
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  • Morocco recorded a total of $54.58 billion in FDI over the past 34 years.
  • Morocco's FDI inflows peaked twice, in 2014 and 2018, both $3.5 billion.
  • The lowest FDI inflow Morocco recorded was in 1990, amounting to $0.17 billion.
  • From 2006 onward, Morocco's FDI inflows remained mostly above $1 billion, with fluctuations.
  • The most recent year, 2024, showed a modest recovery after a significant dip in 2023.
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  • Nigerians submitted 1.1 million Schengen visa applications between 2009 and 2024.
  • The highest rejection rates occurred in 2017 (53%) and 2019 (51%).
  • A total of 491,844 applications were rejected, a cumulative denial rate of 42.1%.
  • Despite post-pandemic recovery, 2024 recorded the highest applications (111k), with a 45% rejection rate.
  • The year 2010 stands out as the period with the least number of Schengen visa applications submitted by the Nigerian consulate.
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  • Comoros leads with a striking 62.8% rejection rate, the highest not just among African consulates, but also the global consulate countries

  • Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Nigeria follow with rejection shares between 45% and 47%.

  • Despite having one of the highest total visa rejections globally, Algeria does not appear in this chart, as its rejection share is comparatively lower.

  • Countries with smaller applicant pools tend to have higher rejection rates, shedding light on access disparities and approval scrutiny in consulate processes.

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  • Algeria recorded the highest number of Schengen visa denials in 2024, with 185,101 applications not issued, representing 35.0% of its total requests.
  • Six countries out of the top 15 global consulate countries with the highest visa denials were from Africa -Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia, and Algeria.
  • Nigeria, Senegal, and Pakistan showed alarmingly high rejection rates, each with over 45% of visa applications refused.
  • Collectively, over 1.7 million Schengen visa applications were not issued worldwide in 2024.
  • European consulates located in African and Asian countries made up a significant share of the rejections.
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  • In 2021, there was a record-breaking spike to $40.22 billion, far exceeding all previous years.
  • This surge was temporary, as FDI dropped to $9.28B in 2022 and fell further to $2.47B in 2024.
  • Other notable peaks occurred in 2008 ($9.21B) and 2013 ($8.30B).
  • The data reflects volatile investor behaviour, influenced by constant global investors.
  • South Africa’s 2021 FDI spike came from a share swap between Naspers and its Dutch unit, Prosus.
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