Africa's Countries With The Most Competitiveness Revealed: Nigeria Ranks 65th Globally

Only six African economies feature in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, with South Africa leading the continent after climbing 10 places to 54th globally. Kenya follows closely in 55th, while Ghana, Botswana, Nigeria and Namibia complete the African list.

The African Ranking
South Africa — 54th globally
Kenya — 55th
Ghana — 64th
Botswana — 66th
Nigeria — 68th
Namibia — 69th

The IMD ranking assesses economies across four major pillars: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure. Its 2026 assessment covers 70 economies and combines statistical data with surveys of senior business executives.

Nigeria: A Tale of Two Rankings

Nigeria's overall position remains a major concern. The country ranked 68th out of 70 economies, slipping one place from 67th in 2025, with an overall competitiveness score of 38.8.

Its weakest area was infrastructure, where Nigeria ranked 70th globally. Business efficiency and government efficiency also remained significant challenges.
But there is another side to the story.

Nigeria ranked 55th globally in economic performance — the best among the six African economies assessed. With a score of 45.2, it outperformed South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia and Botswana on this particular pillar.

What to Know

1. South Africa is back on top.
South Africa jumped 10 places to 54th globally, overtaking Kenya to reclaim the African lead.

2. Nigeria's overall ranking exposes its structural weaknesses.

Strong economic activity alone has not translated into broader competitiveness because infrastructure, institutional quality, business conditions and other factors continue to weigh on the economy.

3. Infrastructure is Nigeria's biggest red flag.

Nigeria ranked last among all 70 economies on the infrastructure pillar, highlighting the scale of challenges around power, transport, education, health and other foundational systems.

4. Nigeria's economic performance offers a counterpoint.

Its 55th global position on economic performance shows that the country's large market and economic activity remain significant assets but those strengths need to be converted into productivity, investment and improved living standards.

5. The six-country African list is not a ranking of all Africa.

The IMD World Competitiveness Ranking currently covers only six African economies because of its data and executive-survey requirements. It should therefore not be interpreted as saying these are Africa's only competitive economies.

Why It Matters
The 2026 ranking reinforces a crucial message for African economies: competitiveness is increasingly about the strength of institutions, infrastructure and the ability to create a predictable environment for businesses to operate and invest.

For Nigeria, the message is particularly stark. The country has the economic scale and performance to compete, but closing its infrastructure and institutional gaps will be critical if that economic potential is to translate into a much stronger global competitiveness position.