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  • Did you know? From Hausa and Igbo to Yoruba and others, Nigeria boasts more than 500 spoken languages, making it one of the world's most linguistically diverse countries. Here are the top ten countries with the most living languages as of 2022.

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    Surfshark's 2023 Digital Quality of Life (DQL) Index surveyed Internet affordability and four other key factors influencing the digital well-being of 121 countries, including 25 from Africa. Per the finding, Angola leads Africa in terms of Internet affordability in 2023.
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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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    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.

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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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    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.

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  • In 2023, 1.17 billion smartphones were shipped globally. Samsung and Apple maintained their stronghold on the smartphone market, collectively accounting for 38%, with each brand capturing 19%.

    Xiaomi maintained a 12% share after peaking at 14% in 2021. Apple's market share shows a gradual increase from 2020, reaching 19% in 2022 and 2023.

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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.

    See more

Other Insights
Debt Stock to GDP Ratio (%), 2020 - 2025
  • External debt is set to surpass domestic debt by 2025, reaching a peak of 28.3% of GDP, which indicates a major shift in Ethiopia’s debt strategy.
  • Ethiopia’s external debt-to-GDP ratio dropped consistently from 26.8% in 2020 to 13.7% in 2024, but a sharp increase is projected for 2025.
  • Domestic debt peaked at 27.1% in 2021 before declining steadily to 18.7% in 2024, with a further decline expected in 2025 (14.5%).
  • The sharp rise in external debt in 2025 suggests a major policy shift, possibly driven by the need for foreign capital or declining domestic financing options.
  • The decline in domestic debt may indicate reduced government borrowing from local sources, which could have implications for local financial markets and inflation.
  • Foreign debt reliance increases exposure to currency risks and external economic conditions, which could affect Ethiopia’s financial stability in the long run.
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  • Spotify’s expansion into Nigeria in 2021 opened the market to global streaming, contributing to the rapid rise of Nigerian artistes on the platform.
  • Nigerian artistes saw significant revenue growth, earning over ₦11 billion in 2022 and exceeding ₦25 billion in streaming royalties by 2023.
  • Rema’s "Calm Down" became the first African song to surpass one billion streams, with the milestone first reached in 2023.
  • Spotify’s influence on Afrobeats has been reinforced through curated campaigns like "Afrobeats: Journey of a Billion Streams" and multiple industry events.
  • Nigerian music continues to dominate local streaming, with Asake ranked as the country’s most-streamed artist on Spotify in 2024.
  • Spotify has increased its investment in Nigeria’s creative industry by hosting major events, such as the annual Wrapped Party and the two-day Afrobeats Celebration Event in 2023.
  • Spotify’s partnership with United Masters in 2025 signals continued support for emerging Nigerian artistes, strengthening global opportunities for independent talent.
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Federal government expenditure on Presidency Amnesty Programme (2015 - 2024)
  • ₦1.9 trillion spent on the PAP from 2015 to 2024, a significant amount dedicated to reintegrating former militants and fostering peace in the Niger Delta.
  • 2017 saw an extraordinary spike with ₦1.3 trillion spent, which is over 68% of the entire decade’s spending.
  • Expenditure stabilized after 2017, maintaining a consistent ₦59.6 billion - ₦65 billion annually from 2018 to 2024.
  • 2024 spending (₦65 billion) reflects only the first three quarters, meaning the final total could be slightly higher.
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Market share by mobile phone generation (2024)
  • 2G is still widely used but has dropped significantly from 57.78% in January to 41.59% in December.
  • 4G has become the dominant mobile network in Nigeria, surpassing 2G by mid-2024 and maintaining a steady increase in market share.
  • 3G remains stable, averaging around 9% market share,
  • 5G adoption is slow but rising, increasing from 1.11% in January to 2.46% in December.
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Forms of economic cost of violence (2023)
  • The world spent $19.1 trillion on violence in 2023, accounting for 13.5% of global GDP.
  • Military and internal security spending make up 74% of this cost.
  • Homicides alone cost the global economy $1.34 trillion, highlighting the economic toll of crime beyond loss of life.
  • Private security is now a $1.15 trillion industry, as businesses and individuals invest heavily in safety.
  • Violent crime resulted in $760 billion in economic losses, affecting productivity, businesses, and legal systems worldwide.
  • Spending on security competes with development needs, diverting resources from education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
  • The cost per person globally is $2,380, illustrating how violence impacts individuals, not just governments or corporations.
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  • Instant messaging leads with 94% usage, reflecting its role as the primary communication tool for Nigerians.
  • Social media is used by 91% of mobile internet users, but only 65% engage with it for business purposes, showing its dominance in personal interactions.
  • Online voice and video calls are highly popular, emphasising a shift toward real-time digital communication.
  • Only 45% access government services, while 41% use online health platforms, indicating gaps in essential digital services.
  • Agriculture-related internet use is the lowest at 25%, highlighting the rural digital divide and limited online resources for the sector.
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  • Heritage Bank emerged from the ashes of Société Générale Bank Nigeria (SGBN), which lost its license in 2006.
  • The bank rebranded and re-entered the market in 2012, later acquiring Enterprise Bank in 2014 to expand its reach.
  • Despite its growth, financial instability and poor loan performance plagued its operations.
  • By 2021, it recorded a staggering 81.2% non-performing loan (NPL) ratio.
  • Regulatory pressures mounted, leading to the revocation of its banking license in June 2024.
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  • Bank PHB was among the banks flagged in the 2009 CBN/NDIC audit for capital inadequacy and governance failures.
  • Despite regulatory interventions, it failed to recapitalise by the September 30, 2011 deadline, leading to its license revocation.
  • The CBN and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) established Keystone Bank as a bridge bank to take over Bank PHB’s assets and liabilities.
  • The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) managed Keystone Bank until 2017, when it was sold to private investors.
  • The bank later divested from its international subsidiaries, focusing on the domestic market.
  • In 2024, the CBN dissolved its board, signalling ongoing financial and governance concerns.
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Key takeaways:

  • The top 11 nations accounted for 73% of the total asylum seekers in 2024, with each nation contributing more than 100,000 asylum seekers.
  • Venezuela (620,074) ranks first as the source country with the most asylum seekers in 2024.
  • Latin American countries dominate the top 11 list, with eight out of the eleven countries originating from the region.
  • Asian countries (China and India) make up a smaller share of the leading asylum-seeking populations.
  • Venezuela is the sole country of origin with an asylum seeker count exceeding 600,000 in 2024.
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Key takeaways:

  • The increase has been continuous and exponential, with no year experiencing a decline since 2012.
  • The pace of growth has intensified in recent years, particularly during the last four years (2020-2024), which witnessed especially sharp increases.
  • The most significant one-year increase in absolute figures took place between 2022 and 2023, adding over 800,000 new asylum applicants.
  • The figure for 2024, standing at 3.18 million, is three times more than what was recorded in 2020.
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Payment system by transaction value (Jan - Jun 2024)
  • Web payment amassed a total transaction value of ₦825.5 trillion, showcasing its dominance in both frequency and financial significance.
  • With a Constant Annual Growth Rate of 150.4% (in volume) and 208.9% (in value), Web Pay has been leading the Nigerian Payment System in both transaction volume and value since 2020.
  • Mobile payments contribute 15.8% of transaction volume and 10.9% of transaction value, indicating growing adoption among tech-savvy users.
  • NEFT transactions represent 21.5% of the total transaction value, reflecting their importance for transferring large sums.
  • The dominance of web payments reflects Nigeria's ongoing transition to a cashless economy and widespread digital adoption.
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Payment system by transaction volume (Jan - Jun 2024)
  • Web payment is the leading payment system in Nigeria, handling over half (52.7%) of transaction volume and 56.6% of transaction value in the first half of 2024.
  • With a Constant Annual Growth Rate of 150.4% (in volume) and 208.9% (in value), Web Pay has been leading the Nigerian Payment System in both transaction volume and value since 2020.
  • Point-of-sale (POS) terminals account for 29% of transaction volume, proving their continued relevance for in-person transactions.
  • Mobile payments contribute 15.8% of transaction volume and 10.9% of transaction value, indicating growing adoption among tech-savvy users.
  • The dominance of web payments reflects Nigeria's ongoing transition to a cashless economy and widespread digital adoption.
  • With 3.49 billion transactions, mobile payments are gaining traction for low-value, high-frequency activities like bills and purchases.
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  • Only four African countries, Seychelles, South Africa, Namibia, and Ghana, meet or exceed the WHO’s recommended minimum of 44.5 nursing and midwifery personnel per 10,000 people.
  • Seychelles leads the continent with 73 personnel per 10,000, followed by South Africa (64), Namibia (54), and Ghana (45).
  • The lowest number within the top 20 is 16, shared by Nigeria, Comoros, and Mauritania.
  • The dataset includes 47 African countries, and no country outside the top 20 has more than 16 nursing and midwifery personnel per 10,000 people.
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  • Egypt attracted $46.6B in FDI in 2024, the highest in 35 years and nearly quadruple 2023’s $9.8B inflow.
  • Average FDI between 1990–2023 was just $4.9B, meaning 2024’s figure is over 9× the long-term average.
  • Prior to 2024, FDI peaked at $11.6B in 2007, with only three other years, 2008, 2022, and 2023 crossing the $9B mark.
  • In 2011, Egypt recorded –$0.48B in FDI, meaning more foreign investment left the country than came in, largely due to the Arab Spring unrest.
  • The 2005–2010 period was previously Egypt’s strongest run, averaging over $8B annually before political instability triggered sharp declines.
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  • Kenya recorded $27.5B total FDI between 1990 and 2024, with most inflows occurring after 2007.
  • From 1990 to 2006, Kenya averaged just $0.04B annually, a sign of limited foreign investor confidence in early years.
  • A major turnaround began in 2007, with FDI jumping from $0.05B to $0.90B, and peaking at $2.23B in 2011.
  • Between 2007 and 2024, Kenya received over 92% of its total FDI, a sharp shift in its investment profile.
  • FDI has stayed above $1B annually since 2009, signalling consistent investor interest in Kenya’s growing economy.
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  • Rwanda attracted a total of $6.28 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) over 35 years, from 1990 to 2024.
  • The highest annual inflow recorded was $820 million in 2024, making it the country’s strongest FDI year yet.
  • Between 2020 and 2024, Rwanda pulled in $2.70 billion, accounting for over 40 percent of its total investment since 1990.
  • From 1990 to 2004, annual FDI barely exceeded $100 million, with several years recording zero inflows.
  • Even during its best-performing years, Rwanda’s FDI never hit the $1 billion threshold.
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  • June 2025 PMI: 51.6, down from 52.7 in May — marking a three-month slowdown in growth.
  • The figure is 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 sentiments.
  • A PMI above 50 signals expansion; Nigeria’s figure signals ongoing growth, though losing speed.
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  • Uganda and Mauritius offer the most affordable mobile data in Africa, with 1GB for just $0.02 over a 30-day period.
  • Comoros, Ghana, and South Africa also rank among the cheapest, each offering 1GB of data for $0.07 to $0.10.
  • Nigeria is among the top 10, with a relatively low cost of $0.13 per 1GB, placing it below the continental average.
  • Madagascar, at $0.32 per 1GB, closes out the top 20, which reflects the upper boundary of affordable data across African nations.
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