Across Africa, countries are making bold moves to invest in energy, transport, and digital infrastructure, the backbone of any thriving economy.
- Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 African countries with the most progress in infrastructure development.
- The list is courtesy of Africa Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI), 2024.
- Across Africa, countries are making bold moves to invest in energy, transport, and digital infrastructure.
There is a clear link between a nation’s infrastructure and its ability to drive sustainable economic growth. Across Africa, countries are making bold moves to invest in energy, transport, and digital infrastructure.
These investments reduce transaction costs, improve productivity, and attract both domestic and foreign investment.
Much of this progress is evident in the recent surge of large-scale infrastructure projects. Just within the past week, Business Insider Africa reported that the World Bank has pledged $1 billion to support the Democratic Republic of Congo as it prepares for the next phase of what could become the world’s largest hydropower project.
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When completed, the initiative has the potential to significantly expand energy access across Central and Southern Africa.
In Ghana, a new memorandum of understanding with the United Arab Emirates aims to position the country as a regional leader in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The agreement will establish a tech and innovation hub to support Ghana’s digital transformation, a critical area of infrastructure in the 21st century.
Meanwhile, Uganda is planning to borrow €500 million ($568 million) from lenders, including the African Export-Import Bank, to fund ongoing infrastructure development. These funds are expected to go into key sectors like transport and energy, which are vital to unlocking regional trade potential.
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South Africa, Africa’s wealthiest economy, is also making strides. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his plan to boost the economy by launching major construction projects has attracted a record 238 billion rand (about $13.3 billion) in investment.
These examples are just a few of the infrastructure advancements happening across Africa. Below are the top 10 African countries making the most progress in infrastructure development according to the Africa Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI), 2024.
Below are the top 10 African countries with the most progress in infrastructure development:
| Rank | Country | Development Index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seychelles | 99.77% |
| 2 | Egypt | 91.43% |
| 3 | Libya | 84.84% |
| 4 | Mauritius | 82.77% |
| 5 | South Africa | 82.54% |
| 6 | Tunisia | 74.18% |
| 7 | Morocco | 70.32% |
| 8 | Algeria | 61.65% |
| 9 | Cabo Verde | 51.51% |
| 10 | Botswana | 42.13% |
