Several African economies remain heavily dependent on imports, according to World Bank data, highlighting structural weaknesses that continue to leave the continent vulnerable to currency shocks, supply-chain disruptions, and global price volatility.
- Many African nations heavily rely on imports, demonstrating vulnerabilities such as exposure to global price volatility.
- Imports equate to large proportions of GDP in countries like Somalia and Lesotho due to limited domestic production.
- Island economies, such as Mauritius and Cabo Verde, also exhibit high import dependencies due to geographical constraints.
- The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to boost intra-African trade, yet challenges like infrastructure gaps hinder its progress.
In some cases, imports are almost equal to national output, reflecting how limited domestic production capacity remains across large parts of Africa.
Somalia and Lesotho rank highest, with imports accounting for 99% of GDP in both countries. Somalia’s reliance reflects decades of conflict, minimal industrial capacity, and dependence on imported food and fuel. Lesotho’s position stems from its small, landlocked economy and deep trade reliance on South Africa for consumer goods and industrial inputs.
Island and open economies also dominate the list. Mauritius records imports worth 78% of GDP, reflecting its integration into global trade and services, but also its dependence on imported energy, raw materials, and food. Cabo Verde shows a similar pattern, where geographic isolation limits domestic production options.
AfCFTA’s promise versus Africa’s import reality
The African Continental Free Trade Area was designed to reduce precisely this vulnerability by boosting intra-African trade, building regional value chains, and replacing extra-continental imports with African production. Yet the data suggests progress remains slow.
Several resource-rich countries remain highly import-dependent. Namibia’s imports stand at 68% of GDP, while Libya, Guinea, Mozambique, Tunisia, and Eswatini all import goods worth more than half of their economic output.
In Libya and Guinea, political instability and limited processing capacity mean raw resources are exported while refined goods are imported. Tunisia’s heavy import dependence has intensified pressure on its foreign exchange reserves, contributing to repeated economic crises.
AfCFTA’s implementation gap remains evident. Intra-African trade still accounts for less than 20% of the continent’s total trade, compared with over 60% in Europe. Poor transport infrastructure, non-tariff barriers, weak industrial policy coordination, and limited access to trade finance continue to undermine the agreement’s potential.
For Africa’s most import-dependent economies, AfCFTA offers a path to reduce exposure by promoting regional manufacturing, agro-processing, and energy integration.
Without accelerated reforms, however, high import reliance will continue to drain foreign exchange, weaken currencies, and constrain long-term growth across the continent.
