South Africa Tops Africa in IMD Ranking at 54th as Only 6 Nations Make List
Updated
Updated · Business Insider Africa · Jul 17
South Africa Tops Africa in IMD Ranking at 54th as Only 6 Nations Make List
3 articles · Updated · Business Insider Africa · Jul 17
Summary
South Africa climbed 10 places to 54th globally in the latest IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, leading Africa with a score of 50.16 after rising from 64th last year.
Advanced financial markets, a diversified industrial base and strong institutions lifted South Africa, but electricity shortages, high unemployment and weak growth still capped its standing.
Kenya ranked 55th with 49.96 points to place second in Africa, while Ghana held third at 64th; both were supported by reform and innovation but weighed down by debt, inflation and currency pressure.
Only six African countries made the 70-economy ranking—Botswana was 66th, Nigeria 68th and Namibia 69th—underscoring how infrastructure gaps and policy uncertainty still blunt the continent's competitiveness.