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3 Economies Account for Half Of Africa’s GDP. Here Are The Top 10

3 Economies Account for Half Of Africa’s GDP. Here Are The Top 10

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With investors showing increased interest in African equity and bond markets and through direct investment, data issues are getting more urgent. Insufficient resources at national statistics offices result in poor quality macroeconomic data.

Measuring GDP in Africa is just plain difficult.

African countries generally fail to accurately record the size of the informal economy which could account for up to 62.7 percent of GDP in countries across the continent.  Many African economies are measured using outdated base years. Revising them could lead to a collective upward revision in African GDP of 30.8 percent, according to World Economics.

Most African countries also use outdated national income accounting standards, making comparisons between their economies and the developed world of little value. Accurate and transparent statistics are essential indicators of economic potential, World Economics reported.

Sources: KNOEMAIMF World Economic Outlook, ONS.UK.gov, StatisticsTimes, World Economics.

changing demographics of African alcohol
Tanzanian wines. Photo: Ludovic Pollet/thedrinksbusiness.com

10. Tanzania

GDP 2015: $44.9 billion

Projected GDP 2016: $45.9 billion

Share of World GDP 2015: 0.1 percent

Share of Africa’s GDP 2015: 2.4 percent

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg In Kenya
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg In Kenya

9. Kenya

GDP 2015: $61.4 billion

Projected GDP 2016: $64.7 billion

Share of World GDP 2015: 0.1 percent

Share of Africa’s GDP 2015: 2.5 percent

Ethiopia cafe society. theguardian.com
Ethiopia cafe society. theguardian.com

8. Ethiopia

GDP 2015: $61.6 billion

Projected GDP 2016: $67.4 billion

Share of World GDP 2015: 0.1 percent

Share of Africa’s GDP 2015: 2.8 percent

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's new home, 2015. Photo: sudaneseonline.org
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s new home, 2015. Photo:
sudaneseonline.org

7. Sudan

GDP 2015: $83 billion

Projected GDP 2016: $93 billion

Share of World GDP 2015: 0.2 percent

Share of Africa’s GDP 2015: 2.9 percent

Ice Cream on the Marginal, Angola, Luanda Bay. Photo: Ken Gerhardt/Getty
Ice Cream on the Marginal, Angola, Luanda Bay. Photo: Ken Gerhardt/Getty

6. Angola

GDP 2015: $102 billion

Projected GDP 2016: $81 billion

Share of World GDP 2015: 0.2 percent

Share of Africa’s GDP 2015: 3.2 percent

Africa’s clean energy revolution
Morocco’s Noor 1 solar plant. Photo: riadzany.blogspot.com

5. Morocco

GDP 2015: $103.1 billion

Projected GDP 2016: $108 billion

Share of world GDP 2015: 0.2 percent

Share of Africa’s GDP 2015: 4.8 percent

Houari Boumediène International Airport, Algeria. Photo: echoroukonline.com
Houari Boumediène International Airport, Algeria. Photo: echoroukonline.com

4. Algeria

GDP 2015: $172 billion

Projected GDP 2016: $166 billion

Share of World GDP 2015: 0.5 percent

Share of Africa’s GDP 2015: 9.9 percent

BMW's millionth car rolls off the assembly line in Rosslyn, South Africa. Photo: autoevolution.com
BMW’s millionth car rolls off the assembly line in Rosslyn, South Africa. Photo: autoevolution.com

3. South Africa

GDP 2015: $313 billion

Projected GDP 2016: $266 billion

Share of World GDP 2015: 0.6 percent

Share of Africa’s GDP 2015: 12.5 percent

Cairo metro. Photo: Egyptianstreets.com
Cairo metro. Photo: Egyptianstreets.com

2. Egypt

GDP 2015: $330.765 billion

Projected GDP 2016: not listed

Share of World GDP 2015: 0.9 percent

Share of Africa’s GDP 2015: 17.3 percent

MTN billboard on a building in Lagos, Nigeria. Photo: George Esiri/Reuters
MTN billboard on a building in Lagos, Nigeria. Photo: George Esiri/Reuters

1. Nigeria

GDP 2015: $492 billion

Projected GDP 2016: $538 billion

Share of World GDP 2015: 1 percent

Share of Africa’s GDP 2015: 19.2 percent