Top 10 African Countries With The Highest GDP In 2025

When we talk about the strength of a country’s economy, one of the first things that comes up is Gross Domestic Product, or GDP.

In simple terms, GDP is the total value of everything a country produces, goods, services, the works, over a year. Think of it as the official price tag on a nation’s economy.

The higher the GDP, the more economic activity is going on. But it’s not just a measure of wealth. GDP gives insight into a country’s economic power, global influence, industrial capacity, and even its ability to export goods.

That’s why GDP rankings matter, not just to economists, but to governments, investors, and businesses keeping an eye on the global playing field.

Africa, with its 54 nations, is incredibly diverse economically. Some countries are powerhouses driving much of the continent’s GDP, while others are still building up due to challenges like political instability, weak infrastructure, or overreliance on a single sector.

According to the IMF, South Africa is projected to remain Africa’s largest economy in 2025 with a GDP of $410.34 billion.

Although Egypt briefly surpassed South Africa in 2023, accounting for 13.63% of Africa’s total GDP, it has since fallen to second place with a projected GDP of $347.34 billion.

Once Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria, despite its massive population, has dropped to fourth, with a projected GDP of $188.27 billion.