Only six African countries feature in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, with South Africa moving ahead of Kenya to take the top position on the continent, while Nigeria ranked 68th among the 70 economies assessed.
The ranking, published by Switzerland-based IMD Business School, measures how economies create conditions that allow businesses to compete. It assesses economies across four areas: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure.
IMD included 70 economies in its 2026 ranking, with Vietnam joining the assessment this year.
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South Africa recorded the biggest movement among the African economies, climbing 10 places to 54th globally with a score of 50.16 points. Its rise moved it ahead of Kenya, which had ranked as Africa’s most competitive economy in 2025.
Here are the six African countries featured in the 2026 ranking:
1. South Africa
South Africa is Africa’s most competitive economy in the 2026 ranking, placing 54th globally.
The country moved up 10 places from its position in the previous edition and recorded an overall score of 50.16 points.
Its performance placed it ahead of Kenya and marked a change in the order of the two leading African economies.
South Africa’s position reflects its performance across the four areas assessed by IMD, including economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure.
2. Kenya
Kenya ranked 55th globally, placing second among African economies.
The country had led Africa in the 2025 ranking but was overtaken by South Africa in the 2026 edition.
Kenya remains one of the two highest-ranked African economies in the global assessment, with its position placing it one place behind South Africa.
3. Ghana
Ghana ranked 64th globally and third among the six African economies assessed.
The country sits nine places behind Kenya and 10 places behind South Africa.
Its ranking places Ghana in the lower half of the 70 economies included in the 2026 assessment.
4. Botswana
Botswana ranked 66th globally, making it the fourth-highest-ranked African economy.
It placed two positions behind Ghana and 12 positions behind South Africa.
Botswana’s position also means that four African economies ranked within the bottom seven positions of the global table.
5. Nigeria
Nigeria ranked 68th globally, placing fifth among the six African economies included in the ranking.
Only two economies ranked below Nigeria in the 70-country assessment.
The position highlights the challenges facing Nigeria in areas that affect competitiveness, including government efficiency, infrastructure and the wider conditions businesses operate in.
For Africa’s largest economy by population, the ranking provides another measure of the work required to improve the environment for businesses and investment.
6. Namibia
Namibia ranked 69th globally, making it the sixth-ranked African economy.
It was positioned one place below Nigeria and one place above the economy ranked last in the overall table.
Namibia’s inclusion means that five of the six African economies assessed ranked among the bottom seven economies globally.
