Data analysis
Africa's highest GDP per capita (2024)
African countries ranked by GDP per capita (current US$). Latest figure, IMF World Economic Outlook where available (current year is an IMF estimate).
This ranking highlights the African economies with the highest estimated economic output per person for 2024, revealing a list dominated by island nations and resource-rich states.
| 1 | Seychelles | US$17,859 |
| 2 | Mauritius | US$11,991 |
| 3 | Gabon | US$8,230 |
| 4 | Botswana | US$7,696 |
| 5 | Equatorial Guinea | US$6,745 |
| 6 | Libya | US$6,569 |
| 7 | South Africa | US$6,267 |
| 8 | Algeria | US$5,753 |
| 9 | Cabo Verde | US$5,192 |
| 10 | Namibia | US$4,413 |
The data shows a clear hierarchy, with two island economies setting the pace for individual prosperity on the continent. Seychelles leads with a GDP per capita of US$17,859, followed by Mauritius at US$11,991. These two are in a distinct tier, well ahead of the resource-driven economies of Gabon at US$8,230 and Botswana at US$7,696.
The distribution of wealth is highly concentrated at the very top. The gap between the leader and the rest of the top ten is substantial: Seychelles' per capita output is more than double that of third-placed Gabon. This reveals a significant dividing line not just between the top ten and the rest of Africa, but within the top performers themselves. The figures show that achieving a per capita income above US$10,000 remains an exclusive threshold met by only two nations in this ranking.
Computed by LeadAfrik from World Bank and IMF data, latest year 2024. Every figure above is calculated directly from the source series, not estimated. Explore the full datasets in our Data catalogue.
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