10 countries with the best food situation in Africa
High food inflation causes tremendous problems for individuals, communities, and nations as a whole, particularly in Africa, given its status as a developing country. Vice versa, low food costs allow an economy to run more smoothly given that people’s disposable income is not spent entirely on the most basic commodity.
While numerous African countries struggle with food inflation, there are some with good to excellent inflation figures.
Several African countries experienced some type of food crisis in 2023. Given the continent’s domestic and external economic issues, several regions faced food shortages, either as a result of poor local production or difficulty importing foods.
Despite economic challenges, several African countries managed to hold their own, mitigating rising food costs. Although these countries seem to be far fewer in between, they have provided a blueprint for navigating food shortages.
They also stand as a beacon of hope to the countries on the continent suffering from food insecurity, with some having some of the world’s best food inflation index.
According to the Food Security Update report by the World Bank, “Key causes of inflation include persistent trade barriers, high transport costs, currency depreciation, civil insecurity, and the Ukraine-Russia war.”
Addressing these issues is the key to Africa alleviating its food crises. With that said, here are the 10 African countries with the lowest food inflation according to the Food Security Update.
Majority of these countries have negative digit food inflation figures, which while they could denote cheaper food prices also come with their own nuanced economic connotations.
| Rank | Country | Food inflation% (January 2023) | Food inflation% (current) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Seychelles | 3.1 | -2.9 |
| 2. | Benin | -1.9 | -2.6 |
| 3. | Somalia | 6.7 | -2.1 |
| 4. | Mali | 7.7 | -1.1 |
| 5. | Burkina Faso | 10.9 | -1.1 |
| 6. | Central African Republic | 16.6 | -0.9 |
| 7. | Senegal | 13.7 | -0.3 |
| 8. | Chad | 17.3 | -0.3 |
| 9. | Tanzania | 9.9 | 2.3 |
| 10. | Uganda | 27.6 | 2.5 |
