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10 African Nations Ranked Top For Information Technology Development In 2017

10 African Nations Ranked Top For Information Technology Development In 2017

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Information and communication technology development is crucial to a country’s economy and business infrastructure, and African nations are well aware of this.

Since 2009 the ICT Development Index (IDI) has been published on an annual basis by the International Telecommunications Union.

This index combines 11 indicators into one benchmark measure, allowing for countries to be monitored and compared in terms of their developments in information and communication technology.

These are the 10 African nations ranked top for information technology development in 2017.

Sources: ICT Development Index, International Telecommunications Union, ITWebAfrica.

146778-004-43FFA118 Patrice Trovoada, primie minister of Sao Tome and Principe, 2010. Photo: Mario Cruz, EPA/Landov
Patrice Trovoada, primie minister of Sao Tome and Principe, 2010. Photo: Mario Cruz, EPA/Landov

10) Sao Tome e Principe

The former Portuguese island in the Atlantic on the west coast of Africa has remained fairly stable in terms of this ranking, dropping a single place to 132nd overall versus 131 last year. Despite the disappointing position in global terms, the country remains 10th on the continent.

Computer class in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Photo: africa.com

9) Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast has been a wonderful success story in recent times, growing their economy at a time when most of the world has been struggling to do so. One of the ways it has been able to do so has been to focus on information and communication technology development, where they have risen from 134th in the world in 2016 to 131 in this year’s ICT Development Index.

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Namibia is making ground on their ICT goals. (Photo: Africa Tech)

8) Namibia

Namibia is yet another of the countries on this list that has been able to improve their ICT Development Index ranking versus the previous year. The Southern African nation worked hard to earn a five-place improvement from 123 to 118 in the ranking.

Tech incubator - The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) in Ghana. Photo - Movemeback
The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) in Ghana. Photo – Movemeback

7) Ghana

Ghana is home to the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST), which claims to be the largest tech incubator on the continent, and so it makes sense that the West African nation would be high in the ICT Development Index in the African context. Despite a drop of three places from 113th to 116th this year, Ghana remains seventh in Africa.

Many telecommunications companies such as Airtel see potential in Gabon. Photo: Airtel

6) Gabon

Gabon is ranked sixth in Africa in terms of the ICT Development Index, and 2017 saw the country improve their overall ranking by four spots. From 118th in 2016, the Gabonese are now placed 114th globally for their efforts to improve information and communication technology for their people.

Bitcoin Africa
The Botswana Bitcoin Association illustrates the importance of technology. Photo: ice3x.co.za

5) Botswana

Fifth in Africa but out of the top 100 globally, the Southern African country of Botswana, Officially ranked 105th this year, it moved down three spots over the course of the year in the 2017 ICT Development Index.

Solar Energy System
While solar energy is a focus in Cape Verde, other technologies are growing too. Photo: Capeverde.com

4) Cape Verde

As the 93rd ranked nation on this list, the island of Cape Verde remains fourth in the African context as far as the ICT Development Index is concerned, but efforts need to be ramped up in the country, as they fell from a ranking of 91 last year.

Adapt IT offices in South Africa. Photo - Adapt IT
South Africa is the third best African country in terms of ICT development. Photo – Adapt IT

3) South Africa

South Africa is ranked 92nd on the overall list this year, allowing the rainbow nation to claim third spot on the continent, but onlookers will note that the country fell four overall stops within the space of a year, from a 2016 ranking of 88th.

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The Seychelles has enjoyed an impressive rise in this ranking. (Photo: Seychelles News Agency)

2) Seychelles

As the second best African country on this particular list, the island of the Seychelles is ranked 90th international on the ICT Development Index. There have been many tech improvements within the country in recent years, leading to the significant achievement of being Africa’s second most developed nation in terms of ICT.

Mauritius has experienced excellent information and communication technology development in recent times. Photo - WCO
Mauritius has experienced excellent information and communication technology development in recent times. Photo – WCO

1) Mauritius

Contributing a great deal to the economy in the island nation of Mauritius, information and communication technology development in the country saw it ranked 72nd global on the ICT Development Index, and first in the African continent.