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  • In 2023, South Africa led Africa's exports with a value of $110.7 billion, nearly double Nigeria's $60.7 billion. Key exports include gems, vehicles, and mineral fuels.

    The top 15 African exporters contribute 84% to the continent's trade, with South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt leading with a combined 52%.

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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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  • Nigeria collected nearly ₦5 trillion income tax from companies in 2023. The amount collected in 2023 is 3.5x the collections in 2015 and 73% more than in 2022. Here are Nigeria's company income tax collections since 2015.

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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
 
  • Listed banking groups in Nigeria are all audited by the big four
  • KPMG is the top auditor for the industry, auditing five companies
  • Deloitte audits four companies, close behind KPMG
  • EY and PwC audit three of the five tier one banks
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Nigeria's gross external reserves (2005 - 2024)
 
  • External reserves hit a peak of $53 billion, a level that hasn’t been reached since.
  • Reserves have moved between $27 billion and $43 billion in the last decade.
  • At $27 billion, 2016 was the most challenging period, coinciding with an economic recession and foreign exchange crises.
  • Reserves rebounded after 2016, reaching as high as $42.6 billion in 2019.
  • With $39.3 billion in reserves as of September 2024, Nigeria is in a stronger position than in some past years but still below historical highs.
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  • The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Guinea had the most stable electricity supply from 2000 to 2021.
  • Cape Verde experienced the highest electricity fluctuations, with values ranging from 2981.5 kWh/person to 7692.9 kWh/person.
  • Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Mali, and Cape Verde had the most unstable electricity supply, with significant year-to-year variations.
  • Nigeria’s electricity supply averaged 2161.7 kWh/person but remained highly inconsistent, fluctuating between 1250.4 and 2707.9 kWh/person.
  • Mali had the lowest electricity availability among unstable nations, averaging 757.4 kWh/person, with a drop as low as 350.7 kWh/person.
  • Countries with stable electricity had lower fluctuations, with The Gambia leading at 957.8 kWh/person and Guinea reaching 1110.8 kWh/person.
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  • Ghana's under-5 mortality rate at 42.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, still higher than the SDG target of 25 deaths per 1,000 live births.
  • Cape Verde achieved the most dramatic reduction in under-5 mortality rates, cutting its rate by over 93%, from 174.8 in 1960 to 12.3 in 2022, the lowest in West Africa.
  • Sierra Leone had the highest under-5 mortality rate in 1960, at 390.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, marking it as one of the most challenging places for child survival in the region at the time.
  • Liberia experienced a troubling increase in under-5 mortality rates during the 1980s, peaking at 263.8 in 1990, a period marked by civil war and economic instability.
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  • Cabo Verde maintained relatively stable unemployment rates, averaging around 13% from 1991 to 2015.
  • Nigeria's unemployment rate climbed to 5.742% in 2020, marking an increase compared to previous years.
  • Burkina Faso saw a sharp rise in unemployment, reaching 5.389% in 2022, the highest in its recorded history.
  • Niger experienced extreme unemployment fluctuations, with a peak of 3.1% in 2005 and a drastic drop to 0.316% in 2011.
  • Ghana experienced its highest unemployment rate of 10.456% in 2000.
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  • The United States holds the strongest military globally, with a Firepower Index of 0.0744, reflecting its superior military resources and capabilities.
  • Russia and China are tied with 0.0788, showcasing their comparable and highly advanced military strengths.
  • India ranks fourth with 0.1184, solidifying its position as a major military power in Asia.
  • South Korea and the United Kingdom follow closely, with 0.1656 and 0.1785, respectively, highlighting their robust defense systems.
  • France, Japan, Turkiye (Turkey), and Italy round out the top 10, with Firepower Indexes ranging from 0.1839 to 0.2164, demonstrating their significant military influence on the global stage.
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Average number of collateral-backed debtors of financial institutions in Nigeria (2017 - 2024)
 
  • The number of collateral-backed debtors fell by almost 50% from 2017 to 2018
  • The number of debtors began increasing consistently from 2019 to 2021
  • The highest post-2018 debt level was recorded in 2023, reaching 7,390, which is close to pre-2018 figures.
  • The decline in 2018 could indicate cautious borrowing or stricter regulations, while the rise afterward suggests a possible easing of credit access.
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Nigeria's Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue collection in USD (2013 - 2023)
 
  • VAT revenue in naira has consistently grown over the years, hitting an all-time high of ₦3.64 trillion in 2023.
  • The dollar value of VAT revenue declined despite the increase in naira terms, dropping from $5.88 billion in 2022 to $5.44 billion in 2023.
  • Over the last decade, VAT revenue in naira has grown at an impressive CAGR of 20.18%, while its dollar value grew at a much lower 5.48%, showing the impact of currency devaluation.
  • 2023 saw one of the largest year-on-year increases in VAT revenue in naira, but the corresponding drop in dollar value indicates that exchange rate volatility are eroding real revenue gains.
  • Nigeria’s revenue collection efforts are improving, but the decline in dollar value highlights the need for economic stability and currency strength.
  • This trend reflects a broader issue in Nigeria’s economy - higher local earnings do not necessarily translate into increased global purchasing power.
  • With VAT being a major non-oil revenue source, policymakers must focus on stabilizing the exchange rate to maximize the real impact of revenue growth.
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China LNG imports from top countries (2021 vs 2023)
 
  • China's total LNG imports dropped by over 55%, from $44 billion in 2021 to $19.4 billion in 2023, showing a significant reduction in demand and a shift in sourcing.
  • Australia, which was China’s largest LNG supplier in 2021 ($16.3 billion), is no longer among the sources in 2023, signaling a shift in China’s energy diversification strategy.
  • Russia and Turkmenistan have emerged as dominant suppliers in 2023, with Turkmenistan leading at $9.61 billion and Russia following at $6.44 billion
  • The U.S. has nearly disappeared from China's LNG market, dropping from $6.22 billion in 2021 to just $52,400 in 2023, a staggering 99.99% decline, likely due to geopolitical tensions and trade policies.
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POS payments method in Nigeria (transaction value %), 2023 and 2027
 
  • Digital wallets are the fastest-growing POS payment method in Nigeria, projected to rise from 18% in 2023 to 37% in 2027.
  • Cash transactions, though still dominant, are steadily declining from 55% to 42%, reflecting a gradual shift towards digital payments.
  • Debit card usage is decreasing from 12% to 8%, possibly due to the convenience of digital wallets and A2A transfers.
  • Prepaid and credit cards remain stable, each holding a minor share of Nigeria’s POS transactions.
  • POS financing remains a niche payment method, with no significant growth expected between 2023 and 2027.
  • Nigerian consumers are prioritizing speed, convenience, and security in their transactions, pushing digital payments to the forefront.
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E-commerce payments method in Nigeria (transaction value %), 2023 and 2027
 
  • Digital wallets are the fastest-growing e-commerce payment method in Nigeria, set to double from 11% in 2023 to 22% by 2027.
  • A2A transfers remain the dominant payment method, slightly increasing from 32% to 34%, showing continued reliance on direct bank-to-bank transfers.
  • Cash-on-delivery is becoming less relevant, dropping from 15% in 2023 to just 9% in 2027, signaling a shift away from cash-based transactions.
  • Both debit card and credit card payments are declining, with debit cards dropping from 19% to 16% and credit cards falling from 15% to 12%, suggesting a changing balance in card preferences.
  • Prepaid cards and buy now, pay later (BNPL) solutions remain relatively small players in the Nigerian e-commerce space, with minimal growth.
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Nigeria's Value Added Tax collections by sector (Q1-Q2 2024)
 
  • Three sectors, Manufacturing, ICT, and Mining & Quarrying, accounted for 58.8% of total VAT revenue in the first half of 2024.
  • Manufacturing alone contributed 24.8% of VAT, making it the highest-paying sector.
  • Nigeria’s digital economy is thriving, with ICT generating 17.6% of VAT revenue, signaling the growth of telecom, data services, and digital platforms.
  • The extractive industry remains vital, with Mining & Quarrying contributing 16.4% of total VAT collection.
  • Finance & Insurance (10.2%) and Public Administration & Defence (9.7%) also made significant contributions to Nigeria’s VAT revenue.
  • Despite contributions from 21 sectors, VAT revenue is still heavily reliant on a few key industries, highlighting the need for a broader tax base.
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Jumia's milestones (2012 to May 2025)
  • Jumia hit unicorn status between 2015 and 2016 after a €300M raise led by key global investors.
  • Its 2019 IPO raised $196M, making it the first African tech company to list on the NYSE.
  • Post-IPO backlash led to a 50% drop in stock price after Citron’s fraud allegations.
  • Between 2020 and 2021, Jumia exited multiple African markets and saw major investors like MTN and Rocket Internet cash out.
  • Jumia exited South Africa and Tunisia in 2024, signalling sharper market focus.
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Global active Facebook users by region as of January 2025
  • Southern Asia alone hosts 520 million active Facebook users, making up 22.8% of global users.
  • South-Eastern Asia follows with 398 million users, equivalent to 17.4% of Facebook's global audience.
  • Nigeria has 38.7 million Facebook users, placing it among the highest in Africa but contributing only 1.3% globally.
  • Southern America and Northern America have 257 million and 221 million users respectively.
  • Western and Northern Africa combined have nearly 185 million users.
  • Central Asia and the Caribbean have the fewest Facebook users globally, with just 6.4 million and 13.8 million users, respectively.
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Share of selected social media users by regions in Africa (Jan. 2025)
  • Northern Africa makes up 65.6% of all Messenger users in Africa.
  • On Instagram, more than half (55.8%) of African users are from Northern Africa.
  • TikTok has its largest African user share in Northern Africa at 48.0%.
  • Western Africa leads the African presence on X (formerly Twitter) with 35.4% of total users.
  • LinkedIn usage is more evenly distributed
  • Facebook users are most concentrated in Northern Africa (37.8%), followed by Western Africa (25.7%).
  • Central Africa contributes the least to every platform, consistently under 8% in all cases.
  • Eastern Africa contributes 20% on X, showing stronger engagement on text-based platforms over visual-heavy ones like Instagram.
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Key takeaways:
  • In September 2015, 9mobile had a peak subscriber base of 23.49 million.
  • After reaching that peak, its subscriber base fell steadily in late 2015.
  • The most drastic reduction happened between February and April 2024, with nearly 5 million customers lost in just three months.
  • 9mobile has lost more than 20 million customers since its peak in September 2015.
  • More than 10 million subscribers were lost between January and April 2025 (>78%).
  • 9mobile customers increased significantly until 2015, then steadily declined, with a steep reduction after 2023.
  • The subscriber base was mostly steady from January 2020 to February 2024.
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Key Takeaways:
  • September 2024 saw the most outbound departures (7,127), followed by January 2025 (6,716 losses).
  • From June 2021 to April 2025, the network saw a steady and increasing loss of consumers to other suppliers.
  • The outflow has accelerated considerably since mid-2023, showing growing subscriber dissatisfaction or more appealing options.
  • The largest monthly outflows occurred between July 2024 and April 2025, when more than 5,000 subscribers left on a consistent monthly basis.
  • Early 2021 numbers were extremely low, with only 323 ports in June and July 2021.
  • The number of subscribers transferring out decreased dramatically between September 2024 and December 2024, before peaking again in January 2025.
  • Monthly port-outs rose from 323 in June 2021 to 7,127 in September 2024, an approximately 2,107% increase.
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Key Takeaways:
  • 9mobile consistently tops the port-out chart, averaging over 75% of all outgoing ports over 24 months.
  • The highest subscriber loss from 9mobile occurred in September 2024, with 90.38% of all ports.
  • Airtel and Globacom show relatively stable port-out shares, rarely crossing 15%, with occasional surges. MTN has the lowest overall port-out rates, peaking at 13.64% in January 2025.
  • Total port-outs to other service providers surged by 127%, from 2,992 in May 2023 to 6,789 in April 2025.
  • The highest port transfer to another provider occurred in September 2024, with 7,886 total departures, and 9mobile recording 7,127 losses (90.38%).
  • Globacom’s outflow increased sharply from the July 2023 low, reaching 18.16% in April 2025.
  • Airtel maintained relatively low but fluctuating port-out rates, hitting its highest at 14.61% in October 2023.
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