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.
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.
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.
Only 30.2% of the Nigerian population report having a birth certificate, and there are wide disparities on a zonal level. The North East has the country's lowest rate at 19.7%, compared with the 53.5% in the South West.
Overall, Northern zones fall below the national rate, while the Southern regions outperform the national rate.
The University of Ibadan remained Nigeria's only university for twelve years before the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was established in 1960. Eleven universities followed between 1962 and 1975, increasing the number to 13 federal government-owned universities.
The first state university was established in Rivers State in 1979, marking the beginning of the displacement of the federal government's ownership monopoly. Six state and nine federal universities were added in the 1980s, with four federal universities added in 1988, the year of the first Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.
While state-owned universities have grown steadily, slightly outpacing those owned by the federal government, private universities have displaced both, increasing from three institutions in 1999 to 33 in 2007, 60 in 2015, and 149 in 2024. There are now more private universities than federal and state universities combined.
In 2023, a staggering ₦721 billion was paid as bribes to public officials in Nigeria, highlighting systemic corruption. Judges and magistrates received the highest average bribe of ₦31,000, reflecting the critical nature of their roles in decision-making processes. Immigration officers followed with an average of ₦17,800, while members of the armed forces received ₦16,600.
In 2023, bribery was increasingly being rejected in Nigeria, with 70% of Nigerians refusing to pay a bribe when asked to. Of these, 42% cited moral beliefs as the primary reason, while 21% opted for alternative methods to achieve their objectives, reflecting a growing resistance to corruption.
On a regional level, sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest average at 33, among 49 countries, while the Western Europe and European Union region outperforms all regions with an average of 65.
The Corruption Perception Index measures the perceived levels of corruption across countries and territories.
Inflation levels across Africa's largest economies range from low and stable in Morocco to high and concerning in Nigeria. Egypt and Nigeria have seen inflation rise to record levels, driven partly by currency devaluations in both countries.
Nigeria has not only fallen from its top spot as the continent's largest economy, but it now holds the spot for the highest inflation rate amongst the top ten economies by GDP.
While its inflation rate has decreased from 292% in April 2024 to 195% in October 2024, Argentina still has one of the highest inflation rates in the world.
This triple-digit inflation rate mirrors Argentina's hyperinflation crisis of the 1980s and 1990s when the country's inflation rose as high as 20,000%.
The Milei-led leadership has instituted reforms since taking office in December 2023, but there have been protests from the public over the resulting hardship.
Rwanda is performing relatively well in terms of governance and rule of law, leading sub-Saharan Africa for the third consecutive year with a score of 0.63 in the 2024 Rule of Law Index. Namibia (0.61) and Mauritius (0.60) closely follow, showcasing relatively stronger legal frameworks.
At the lower end, Nigeria, Congo, and Gabon score 0.40, highlighting persistent governance challenges.
Globally, Denmark tops the list of 142 countries, with a score of 0.90, while Venezuela ranks last at 0.26, emphasising the gap between SSA's highest performers and global leaders. This mix of progress and struggles illustrates the varied state of governance across the region.
In 2023, Morocco led Africa’s phone export market with $192.2 million, making up 0.07% of the global total, followed by South Africa at $85.9 million, with a global share of 0.03%.
Though Tunisia, Mauritius, and Kenya contributed smaller shares, Tunisia’s remarkable 5,456% growth stands out, positioning it for greater involvement in the global market.
However, Mauritius and Kenya faced declines of -38% and -52%.
In 2023, the global mobile phone export market totalled $271.42 billion, with China dominating by accounting for $137 billion (50.5%) of total exports.
Vietnam, Hong Kong, and India complete the top four, accounting for 11.8%, 9.7%, and 5.3% of the total, respectively.
Six Asian countries and regions make up four-fifths of global mobile phone export value in 2023, showcasing the region's dominance in the industry.
