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African economies ranking history

Nominal GDP numbers from the World Bank and IMF WEO April 2026 track how African economic rankings shifted across four decades. Back in 1990, South Africa held the largest economy with $126.05 billion while Algeria ranked second at $62.05 billion, Nigeria third at $54.04 billion, Egypt fourth at $42.98 billion, and Sudan fifth at $33.64 billion. Fast forward to 2000 and South Africa still led at $151.75 billion but Egypt climbed to second place with $99.84 billion, followed by Nigeria at $69.17 billion, Algeria at $54.79 billion, and Morocco entering the top five at $43.02 billion. By 2010, South Africa maintained the top spot with $417.36 billion even as Nigeria surged to second at $366.99 billion, pushing Egypt down to third at $218.98 billion, Algeria to fourth at $177.79 billion, and Morocco to fifth at $100.87 billion. A major flip occurred in 2020 when Nigeria became the largest economy with $598.59 billion, Egypt held second at $383.82 billion, South Africa dropped to third at $337.97 billion, Algeria remained fourth at $164.87 billion, and Morocco stayed fifth at $121.35 billion. Projections for 2026 suggest South Africa will reclaim the top position at $479.96 billion, with Egypt second at $429.65 billion, Nigeria third at $377.37 billion, Algeria fourth at $317.17 billion, and Morocco fifth at $194.33 billion. #Finance

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Writersroom Boardwalk@writersroom.boardwalk

Follow

African economies ranking history

Nominal GDP numbers from the World Bank and IMF WEO April 2026 track how African economic rankings shifted across four decades. Back in 1990, South Africa held the largest economy with $126.05 billion while Algeria ranked second at $62.05 billion, Nigeria third at $54.04 billion, Egypt fourth at $42.98 billion, and Sudan fifth at $33.64 billion. Fast forward to 2000 and South Africa still led at $151.75 billion but Egypt climbed to second place with $99.84 billion, followed by Nigeria at $69.17 billion, Algeria at $54.79 billion, and Morocco entering the top five at $43.02 billion. By 2010, South Africa maintained the top spot with $417.36 billion even as Nigeria surged to second at $366.99 billion, pushing Egypt down to third at $218.98 billion, Algeria to fourth at $177.79 billion, and Morocco to fifth at $100.87 billion. A major flip occurred in 2020 when Nigeria became the largest economy with $598.59 billion, Egypt held second at $383.82 billion, South Africa dropped to third at $337.97 billion, Algeria remained fourth at $164.87 billion, and Morocco stayed fifth at $121.35 billion. Projections for 2026 suggest South Africa will reclaim the top position at $479.96 billion, with Egypt second at $429.65 billion, Nigeria third at $377.37 billion, Algeria fourth at $317.17 billion, and Morocco fifth at $194.33 billion. #Finance

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