African Countries by Population and GDP
Under the UN's M49 standard, Africa has 54 UN member states, and SOTW has figures for all of them. Together they had 1.55 billion people in 2025, 18.9% of the world's population in SOTW's data. South Africa has the largest economy and Nigeria the most people. Seychelles has the highest GDP per person, $19,157 (2026 IMF projection).
Source: UN Statistics Division: standard country or area codes for statistical use (M49), checked October 21, 2026.
- UN member states
- 54
- 54 economies with data, M49
- Combined GDP
- $3.63T
- 2026 (IMF projection), 2.9% of covered world, 52 of 54 economies
- Population
- 1.55 billion
- 2025, 18.9% of covered world
- Highest GDP per person
- Seychelles
- $19,157, 2026 (IMF projection)
All African countries
Most populous countries in Africa
Nigeria has the highest population among the 54 economies here with a figure: 237.5 million (2025). The ten listed account for 61.3% of Africa's combined population.
Richest countries in Africa
Seychelles has the highest GDP per person among the 53 economies here with a figure: $19,157 (2026 IMF projection). Seychelles is also highest at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for price levels ($37,183). Eritrea has no figure and is not ranked.
| # | Country | GDP per personcurrent US dollars | Year | GDP per person at PPPinternational dollars (PPP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seychelles | $19,157 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $37,183rank 1 |
| 2 | Mauritius | $13,671 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $35,434rank 2 |
| 3 | Gabon | $11,034 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $26,224rank 3 |
| 4 | Botswana | $8,563 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $22,135rank 5 |
| 5 | Equatorial Guinea | $8,484 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $18,880rank 7 |
| 6 | South Africa | $7,659 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $16,841rank 9 |
| 7 | Libya | $7,557 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $18,224rank 8 |
| 8 | Algeria | $6,910 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $19,719rank 6 |
| 9 | Cabo Verde | $6,556 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $13,466rank 11 |
| 10 | Namibia | $5,742 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $12,513rank 13 |
Largest economies in Africa
South Africa has the highest nominal GDP among the 53 economies here with a figure: $489.08B (2026 IMF projection). The ten listed account for 69.8% of the combined nominal GDP of the 52 economies with a 2026 figure. Eritrea has no figure and is not ranked.
| # | Country | GDPcurrent US dollars | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | $489.08B | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 2 | Egypt | $442.89B | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 3 | Nigeria | $386.67B | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 4 | Algeria | $331.89B | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 5 | Morocco | $195.63B | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 6 | Angola | $157.30B | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 7 | Kenya | $151.15B | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 8 | Ghana | $128.64B | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 9 | Ethiopia | $127.14B | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 10 | DR Congo | $122.28B | 2026 (IMF projection) |
Poorest countries in Africa
Burundi has the lowest GDP per person among the 53 economies here with a figure: $510 (2026 IMF projection). Burundi is also lowest at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for price levels ($1,036). Eritrea has no figure and is not ranked.
| # | Country | GDP per personcurrent US dollars | Year | GDP per person at PPPinternational dollars (PPP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burundi | $510 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $1,036rank 1 |
| 2 | Sudan | $597 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $2,576rank 11 |
| 3 | South Sudan | $642 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $1,582rank 2 |
| 4 | Madagascar | $649 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $2,124rank 7 |
| 5 | Mozambique | $673 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $1,721rank 3 |
| 6 | Malawi | $740 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $1,819rank 4 |
| 7 | Niger | $774 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $2,211rank 10 |
| 8 | Somalia | $850 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $1,976rank 5 |
| 9 | Central African Republic | $891 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $2,170rank 9 |
| 10 | Sierra Leone | $946 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $3,933rank 18 |
African countries by subregion
Eastern Africa has the most people of these regions: 512.2 million people in 2025.
| Region | Economies | Population, 2025 | GDP, 2026 IMF projection | Most populous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Africa | 18 | 512.2 million | $694.06B (17 of 18) | Ethiopia |
| Middle Africa | 9 | 219.5 million | $435.21B | DR Congo |
| Northern Africa | 6 | 275.7 million | $1.12T | Egypt |
| Southern Africa | 5 | 74.0 million | $538.30B | South Africa |
| Western Africa | 16 | 465.4 million | $840.15B (15 of 16) | Nigeria |
Africa over time
Nominal GDP of the 6 largest economies
About these figures
- Totals are sums of country figures for one year over the economies that have one, not official aggregates; each says how many it covers. Missing figures are not counted as zero.
- Growth, inflation and other rates are not added up or averaged into a group or continent rate, because an unweighted average gives a small economy the same weight as a large one.
- GDP is converted to US dollars at market exchange rates; GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) adjusts for differences in price levels, so it is the better comparison of living standards and gives a different order.
- M49 also lists Western Sahara, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint Helena, British Indian Ocean Territory and French Southern Territories in Africa; SOTW has no figures for them.
- The African Union has 55 members: the 54 countries in this table and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara), which has no figures here. M49 places Sudan in Northern Africa.
- IMF figures for the current year are projections from the World Economic Outlook, revised at each release, not measured values.
Sources and definitions
- Population SP.POP.TOTL
- Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates. Unit: people. World Bank (World Development Indicators)
- GDP IMF.NGDPD
- Economic output at current prices, expressed using market exchange rates. Unit: current US dollars. International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
- GDP per person IMF.NGDPDPC
- Current-price economic output divided by the population. Unit: current US dollars. International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
- GDP per person at PPP IMF.PPPPC
- Purchasing-power-adjusted current-price economic output per person. Unit: international dollars (PPP). International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
- Land area AG.LND.TOTL.K2
- Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes. Unit: square kilometres. World Bank (World Development Indicators)
Questions
How many countries in Africa are there?
54 UN member states, under the UN's M49 standard. SOTW's data has 54 economies there, counting territories.
What is the largest economy in Africa?
South Africa, with nominal GDP of $489.08 billion (2026 IMF projection, IMF World Economic Outlook). That is 13.5% of the combined GDP of the 52 economies with a 2026 figure.
What is the richest country in Africa?
By GDP per person, Seychelles: $19,157 (2026 IMF projection). Seychelles is also first at purchasing power parity ($37,183). GDP per person measures output, not household income or wealth.
What is the most populous country in Africa?
Nigeria, with 237.5 million people in 2025 (World Bank estimate).
What is the poorest country in Africa?
By GDP per person, Burundi: $510 (2026 IMF projection). Countries without an IMF figure are not ranked.