Key Takeaways:

• Africa’s sesame seed oil production grew from 23,706 tonnes in 1961 to 217,048 tonnes in 2022, an overall increase of 815%.
• The highest production was recorded in 2012, with an output of 375,697 tonnes, which is more than 15 times the 1961 volume.
• Between 1961 and 2012, production rose by 1,484.8%.
• The largest single-year increase occurred between 1969 and 1970, when production jumped from 41,456 tonnes to 101,472 tonnes.
• After reaching its peak in 2012, production experienced notable fluctuations, settling at 217,048 tonnes by 2022.
• The sharpest annual decline occurred in 2013, with a 38.6% drop following the 2012 peak.

Key takeaways:

• Over the past six decades, global wine production has remained relatively stable, averaging around 28 million tonnes annually.
• Wine production increased from 21.5 million tonnes in 1961 to 27.4 million tonnes in 2022.
• The highest production was recorded in 1979, reaching 37.5 million tonnes.
• The second-highest year was 1982, with a production of 37.4 million tonnes.
• Wine production exceeded 30 million tonnes in ten different years between 1961 and 2022.
• Between 2000 and 2022, production was consistently stable, averaging about 27 million tonnes.
• The 2022 production of 27.4 million tonnes represented a 27.3% increase compared to 1961.

Key Takeaways:

• African wine production peaked in 1965 at 2.39 million tonnes, the highest level recorded during the entire period.
• The most dramatic single-year drop occurred between 1965 and 1966, when production fell by 40%, from 2.39 to 1.44 million tonnes.
• A gradual recovery began in the early 2000s, with production consistently exceeding 1 million tonnes from 2003 onward.
• The most recent peak occurred in 2021, with production reaching 1.23 million tonnes, a 48.5% decline from the 1965 high.
• Despite this partial recovery, current production levels remain well below the highs of the 1960s.
• As of 2022, African wine production stood at 1.16 million tonnes, representing a 43% decrease from 1961.

Key Takeaways:    

• China’s exports to Nigeria increased from less than $100 million in 1992 to $20.2 billion in 2023, an overall growth of 22,074%.
• The highest export value was recorded in 2022 at $22.3 billion.
• China's exports to Nigeria dropped sharply in 2016 to $9.7 billion from $15.39 billion in 2014.
• After a sharp 29% decline between 2015 and 2016, exports entered a period of sustained growth beginning in 2017.
• The 2020–2022 period saw remarkable growth, with exports rising by 33% despite global pandemic challenges.
• In 2023, exports declined by 9.5%, yet remained significantly above pre-pandemic levels.

• 87.2% of startup deal value in Francophone Africa in 2024 came from equity funding.
• Debt financing made up only 12.4% of the total startup capital raised, showing its limited role.
• Grants accounted for just 0.4%, reflecting minimal non-dilutive support for startups.
• Startups are more likely to trade ownership than take on debt or apply for grants.
• The funding landscape remains investor-driven, with equity seen as the path to scale.
• The near absence of grant funding may hinder innovation for startups that need early runway but aren't ready to give up equity.

• The arts, entertainment, and recreation sector contributed 4.12% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2020.
• By 2025, this contribution is projected to rise modestly to 4.43%.
• The growth rate maintains a steady pace, reaching 4.75% by 2030.
• By 2050, the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector is projected to reach a 6.00% share of Nigeria’s GDP.
• With only a 1.88 percentage point rise forecasted over 30 years, the pace of growth suggests the sector remains undervalued or under-leveraged relative to its potential.
• The creative economy’s resilience, despite limited public infrastructure and policy support, demonstrates strong organic demand and global competitiveness.

• Morocco's AIDI score rose from 19.08 in 2003 to 70.32 in 2024, indicating substantial infrastructure progress over two decades.
• Over the past 21 years, Egypt's infrastructure development, as measured by AIDI, has more than tripled.
• Nigeria ranks 24th in infrastructure (AIDI) despite having the 4th largest GDP in Africa.
• In 2024, Nigeria’s AIDI score was 25.70, significantly below peers like Morocco (91.43) and Egypt (82.54).
• Algeria, with a GDP of $260.13B, achieved a strong AIDI score of 70.32, ranking 8th.
• The AIDI gap highlights that economic size doesn’t guarantee infrastructure strength, underlining the need for intentional investment.

• Eight East African nations made the list of the top 15 worst African currencies.
• Somalia has the weakest African currency in 2024, with an exchange rate of 28,118.33 SOS per US$.
• Guinea, with 8,613.26 GNF per US$, has the second weakest currency, but is still far behind Somalia.
• Madagascar, Uganda, and Zimbabwe follow, each with exchange rates between 3,200 and 4,500 LCU per US$.
• Nigeria’s currency traded at 1,478.97 Naira per US$, about 20 times stronger than Somalia's currency.
• Despite economic turmoil, South Sudan’s currency remained below 2,200 SSP per US$, performing better than Somalia and Guinea.
• The gap between Somalia and the rest of Africa’s currencies highlights extreme economic pressures unique to the Somali economy in 2024.

• Nigeria's urban population is projected to grow from 9% in 1950 to 70% in 2050.
• The urban population surpassed the rural population for the first time in 2020.
• Between 1980 and 2020, Nigeria’s urban population more than doubled, from 22% to 52%.
• The rural population share is expected to fall sharply from 91% in 1950 to just 30% in 2050.
• In 2010, Nigeria’s population was still majority rural (57%), but within just a decade, that changed.

• Egypt led every single year from 1961 to the most recent year — 63 years of dominance.
• Egypt peaked at over 10.2 million tonnes in 2009, no other African country came close.
• As of 2023, Egypt ranked 5th globally, just ahead of Italy and behind the US.
• Nigeria hit its highest level in 2015, with 4.2 million tonnes.
• Nigeria was the only country that got within 1.5 million tonnes of Egypt in 13 different years.
• Countries like Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia remained consistent but far behind Egypt and Nigeria.
• Egypt’s lead is backed by large-scale irrigation and strong export systems.
• In 1987, Africa supplied 11.7% of the world’s tomatoes. But by 2023, its share dropped to 8.8%.

Key Takeaways:

• From 2014 to 2023, China’s imports from Nigeria fluctuated significantly, ranging between $907 million and over $3 billion.
• A sharp 53% drop was recorded between 2014 and 2015, followed by a further decline to a decade-low in 2016.
• China reached its highest import value in 2021, when it imported over $3 billion from Nigeria.
• Imports fell by 47% in 2022 but recovered by 48% in 2023, reaching $2.37 billion.
• The volatility in trade reflects the influence of global commodity prices, especially oil, and evolving bilateral trade dynamics.
• Mineral fuels, oils, and distillation products accounted for more than 50% of China's imports from Nigeria during the period of study.

Key takeaways:

• China led global gold production with 378.16 tonnes, representing approximately 10.4% of global output.
• The top five producers (China, Russia, Australia, Canada, and the United States) collectively produced 37% of the world’s gold.
• African nations showed remarkable strength, with four countries in the top 15 (Ghana, Mali, South Africa, and Burkina Faso).
• Ghana led Africa in gold production and ranked 6th globally, producing 135.11 tonnes in 2023.
• China, Australia, and Russia together produced nearly 1,000 tonnes of gold, accounting for 27.3% of total world production.