Top 10 African Countries With the Lowest GDP Per Capita Growth in the Last 10 Years
A low or negative GDP per capita growth rate year over year frequently indicates more than simply economic stagnation; it also reveals underlying issues that impact citizens’ everyday lives, the resilience of institutions, and in African countries this can be prevalent.
GDP per capita growth in percentage terms, when monitored annually, is more than simply a figure; it provides insight into a country’s population’s actual economic experiences.
It represents whether growth reaches the common citizen or is stifled by inflation, population growth, or inequality.
For some countries, this index has trended in the right direction, while some have not been as fortunate.
Low GDP per capita growth has a disproportionate impact on the most disadvantaged. The poor get poorer, while the middle class sees their gains lost.
As incomes stagnate or fall, more individuals fall below the poverty line. This can eventually lead to increased economic disparity and societal strife.
A declining economy typically struggles to provide enough employment, particularly for an expanding population.
This can lead to widespread unemployment or an increase in informal and low-wage occupations.
When GDP per capita declines, it indicates that there is insufficient productive activity to support economic development and that people are either unemployed or working inefficiently.
Furthermore, investors and firms are less willing to invest in nations where economic production per capita is declining.
A negative growth trend suggests that the market is decreasing or has low productive potential. This inhibits foreign direct investment, hinders innovation, and limits the growth of domestic firms.
Economic unhappiness may swiftly lead to political instability. Governments facing such pressure may struggle to preserve stability and trust.
Countries that have persistently low or negative per capita growth risk falling behind in the global economy.
They may struggle to keep up with technological advancements, trade competitiveness, and regional economic integration, resulting in missed growth opportunities and weakened geopolitical importance.
With that said, here are the top 10 African countries with the lowest growth in GDP per capita in the last decade, according to World Economics.
| Rank | Country | GDP per capita 2014 (Int$) | GDP per capita 2024 (Int$) | GDP per capita Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sudan | $7,339 | $4,081 | -44.4% |
| 2. | Angola | $19,781 | $13,888 | -29% |
| 3. | Congo Republic | $16,927 | $12,043 | -28.9% |
| 4. | Chad | $4,121 | $3,071 | -25.5% |
| 5. | Burundi | $1,763 | $1,494 | -15.3% |
| 6. | Lesotho | $4,543 | $4,034 | -11.3% |
| 7. | Namibia | $17,299 | $15,415 | -10.9% |
| 8. | Sierra Leone | $3,513 | $3,195 | -9.1% |
| 9. | Gabon | $41,913 | $39,652 | -5.4% |
| 10. | Nigeria | $11,383 | $10,800 | -5.1% |
