Bite-sized Insights about
 
Providing you with data-based insights about things happening around you.
Popular Insights
  • As of 2022, the US had 948,519 international students, 14,438 (1.5%) of whom were Nigerian. Nigeria was ranked tenth among contributing countries to the international student community in the US.
    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

    Africa's sanitation crisis is alarming, with 17 of the top 20 countries having the highest open defecation rates.

    Eritrea (67%), Niger (65%), and Chad (63%) lead, putting millions at risk of disease.

    Even Nigeria, the most populous African country, has 18% of its population practising it.

    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

    The FAAC's revenue distribution from 2017 to August 2023 highlights the dominance of Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa states in allocations. Despite Lagos' economic prominence, it ranked fifth. Here is the distribution of revenue among states between 2017 and August 2023.

    See more

  • Nigerians made up 6.5% of international students in the United Kingdom as of 2022
    In the 2021/2022 academic year, 2.86 million students studied in UK's higher education institutions, with 680k (23.8%) being international students. Nigerians accounted for 44k (6.5%) of overseas students in the UK, trailing China's 151k (22.3%) and India's 126k (18.6%).
    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
 

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.
See more

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.
See more

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.
See more
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.
See more
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.
See more
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.
See more

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.
See more

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.
See more

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%.
See more
Eurobond issuance by African countries (2024)
  • South Africa issued $3.5 billion, making up over a quarter (25.6%) of all issuances on the continent.
  • South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria issued $8.3 billion, accounting for 61% of Africa’s total Eurobond issuance in 2024.
  • Despite economic uncertainties, Nigeria remains an active player in international markets, issuing $2.2 billion in Eurobonds.
  • Francophone West Africa has a strong presence as Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Benin collectively issued $4.4 billion, highlighting their growing role in Africa’s debt markets.
  • At $0.75 billion and $0.55 billion, respectively, Benin and Cameroon still secured external financing, but at significantly lower levels than their larger counterparts.
See more

Key takeaways:

  • The third quarter of 2023 displayed an unusually low tax payment of ₦104.9 million.
  • Tax contributions stabilised once again in Q4 2023 and maintained a robust presence in 2024, especially in Q1 and Q3.
  • Beginning at ₦1.99 billion in Q1 2021, BUA Foods’ income tax payments displayed fluctuations up until 2024.
  • Tax payments for BUA Foods remained relatively stable between 2021 and 2022.
  • The peak tax payments occurred in Q2 2023 at ₦7.09 billion and Q1 2024 at ₦6.54 billion.
See more
 

Key takeaways:

  • The tax-to-GDP ratio reached its peak in 2022/23 at 24.9%, signifying enhanced efficiency in tax collection.
  • Throughout the past two decades, the percentage of tax revenue relative to GDP has exhibited significant stability.
  • The tax revenue as a proportion of GDP has fluctuated between 21% and 25% over the last twenty years.
  • Notable declines occurred during global economic downturns, such as the financial crisis of 2008-2009 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The recent years (2021-2024) reflect a robust recovery, with tax revenue percentages approaching peak levels.
See more
1 55 56 57 58 59 117
  • The Super Falcons have won 10 out of 13 WAFCON tournaments, a 77% win rate.
  • They have never failed to reach the semi final stage, finishing in second place once and fourth place twice.
  • The Super Eagles, by contrast, have won only 3 out of 34 AFCON tournaments.
  • The men's team has placed second 5 times and third 8 times, but failed to earn a medal in 18 editions.
  • WAFCON results show more consistency and dominance by Nigeria’s women’s team than the men’s team.
Read more
  • Liberia leads with an ENPP of 6.44, showing the strongest balance of party influence in Africa.
  • Morocco (5.68) and Tanzania (5.64) follow closely, reflecting vibrant multiparty political systems.
  • East Africa is well represented, with both Tanzania and Kenya among the top five.
  • Malawi’s ENPP of 5.19 highlights its robust political competition despite its smaller size.
  • Countries such as Gambia, Benin, and Comoros maintain a healthy level of party competitiveness, underscoring diversity beyond larger nations.
Read more
  • Teraco in South Africa is Africa’s largest data centre with 200 MW capacity.
  • Nigeria follows with a combined 110 MW from Rack Centre and MainOne.
  • Kenya leads East Africa with a 50 MW facility by Liquid Intelligent Technologies.
  • Morocco’s 40 MW Maroc Datacenter tops North Africa.
Read more
  • Ethiopia leads Africa’s hydropower projects with the massive 6,450 MW Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
  • Three of Africa’s top ten hydroelectric plants are located in Ethiopia, signalling major investment in renewable energy.
  • The Kariba Dam, shared by Zambia and Zimbabwe, is the largest cross-border project on the list.
  • Nigeria’s Kainji Dam ranks tenth with 760 MW, highlighting a relatively lower capacity compared to continental leaders.
Read more
  • Life insurance dominates the market with ₦276.8 billion in gross premiums, more than any other sector.
  • Oil and Gas insurance follows as the second-largest segment, generating ₦188.7 billion in Q1.
  • Fire and Motor insurance sectors contributed ₦91.9 billion and ₦77.7 billion respectively, reflecting strong demand.
  • Aviation insurance recorded the least income at ₦16.6 billion, likely due to the limited scope of operations.
  • The top three segments (Life, Oil & Gas, and Fire) jointly account for over 75% of the total GPI in the quarter.
Read more
  • Dangote Cement reported the highest H1 2025 profit at ₦436.6 billion, up 50% from ₦291.7 billion in H1 2024.
  • BUA Cement’s profit more than doubled to ₦149.1 billion, a 164% rise from ₦56.5 billion in the same period last year.
  • BUA Cement had the fastest profit growth rate among the three major players, despite starting from a lower base.
  • Combined, the three firms posted over ₦720 billion in half-year profit, with Dangote alone accounting for over 60% of the total.
  • The sharp profit rises may reflect improved pricing, cost management, or benefits from forex gains after naira devaluation.
Read more
1 55 56 57 58 59 234

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