About Africa #30/2: Economies of Six of the Most Urbanized African Nations
In the last issue, we highlighted 18 African countries that beat the world’s average urbanization rate and took a quick peep at the top 6 countries’ economic progress.
Today, we are examining the economic strength of 6 more countries leading the way in urbanization in Africa.
Botswana’s GDP per capita stands at $7,875 … ranking fourth on the continent after Gabon
Botswana, one of Africa's most stable countries, is the continent's longest continuous multi-party democracy. It is relatively free of corruption and has a good human rights record. — Botswana Country Profile by the BBC
Other Interesting Reads:
Tunisia’s GDP per capita in 2024 is reported to be $4,435 — double Africa’s average.
The Tunisian population is mostly concentrated in cities. In recent years, increasingly more people have migrated from rural areas to urban centers. In fact, having undergone rapid socio-economic and infrastructural development, cities generally offer a higher standard of living and more employment opportunities to the population. — Saifaddin Galal, statista.com
Just like its neighbor, Libya, Tunisia’s woes which began with the “Arab Spring” in 2010 are still haunting the country. Many citizens want to leave in search for better lives in Europe, risking their safety in the process.
The nation used to be dubbed a “Democratic Success Story” however, this transition to democracy hasn’t been fully achieved.
Tunisia is a stunning country, with plenty of historical sights, national parks and a town known as the gateway to the Sahara Desert. This recent vlog paints a nice picture of Tunisia and gives some insights into the country’s history.
Republic of Congo’s GDP per capita is one of the lowest among the most urbanized African countries at $2,457 …
But it’s miles ahead of its bigger twin, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) whose GDP per capita is only $745.
Republic of the Congo: 2024 Economic Overview
If you wish to know more about “Little Congo” a detailed account was recently published by the Substack writer, Yaw Boadu.
This is probably the best collection of information, historical facts and documents about the Republic of Congo. For example, he has linked to a report issued by the World Bank in 1969, which mentions that there was already an excessive urbanization taking place. This meant that in the case of the Republic of Congo, urbanization has proven itself to be its Achilles heel rather than its strength.
South Africa’s GDP per capita is at $5,975 in 2024, ranking 7th on the continent
Urbanization is nothing new in South Africa, which is said to have started in the late 1800s. It is projected by the IMF to have the largest economy in Africa in 2024 at $373 billion.
10 largest economies in Africa in 2024 - IMF
South Africa is the most industrialized country on the continent, and probably the first country that comes to mind when talking about Africa. While the country still faces many problems — as does any other country in the world! — it has come a long way since Apartheid was abolished. A book that talks about this was recently published by a political scientist from MIT:
From South Africa, a success story for democracy
Angola’s GDP per capita is hovering at $2,432 — dismal for an oil-rich nation
Angola is one of the top 20 oil producing countries in the world, right behind Nigeria. In 2023, the country made over $30 billion dollars solely from its oil revenues. And despite the mesmerizing ultra-modern city of Luanda with its skyscrapers, residential villages with manicured gardens and luxurious cars, this African country is an epitome of a tragic story of conflict, violence, and corruption.
First, it’s important to note that Angola’s urbanization was not fueled by a growing economy, rather it is the result of nearly three decades of civil war which has displaced its people from rural areas to the cities for safety. Once the war ended, the country had been literally bled dry of its massive oil earnings by a single family.
The video below captures that story very well. From being the most expensive city in the world in 2017, Luanda now sits at 158. It fell 128 spots due to massive inflation. The country seems to be undergoing massive changes since the turnover of power to a new president. Whether or not he is willing and able to change the narrative of this nation, is yet to be determined.
Cabo Verde rounds out the top 10 African countries with the highest GDP per capita, at $4,656
Cabo Verde has witnessed significant economic progress since 1990, driven in large part by the rapid development of tourism (25% of GDP), coupled with considerable social development due to strong social policies since the 1970s. — The World Bank in Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde is a testament that a country can thrive without massive oil, diamond or gold reserves.
Poor in natural resources, prone to drought and with little arable land, the Cabo Verde or Cape Verde islands have won a reputation for achieving political and economic stability. — BBC, Cape Verde country profile
Its main driver for economic growth is tourism as it boasts pieces of paradise spread over 10 islands.
Next up, we’ll talk about 6 more African countries with more people living in developing cities than their rural areas.
Urbanization can be an indicator on how any country is progressing, but as we’ve seen, it can also be a symptom of problems waiting for solutions. Overall, it is evident that progress is taking place in Africa, and as each country moves from lower income to middle income status, it is bound to have a domino effect across the region.
Thanks for sharing!
I have written about Botswana, Gabon, and Angola as well:
Botswana: https://open.substack.com/pub/yawboadu/p/botswanas-economy-in-nine-minutes?r=garki&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Angola: https://open.substack.com/pub/yawboadu/p/angola?r=garki&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Gabon: https://open.substack.com/pub/yawboadu/p/the-economy-and-history-of-gabon?r=garki&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web