The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has published the 2024 edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII), providing a comprehensive evaluation of innovation across 133 countries. The report offers an in-depth analysis of how nations are leveraging science, technology, research, and creative outputs to drive socioeconomic development. The GII, introduced in 2007, employs a broad set of criteria to assess a country’s innovation capability and performance, including Institutions, Human Capital and Research, Infrastructure, Market Sophistication, Business Sophistication, Knowledge & Technology Outputs, and Creative Outputs.
Africa's Performance in the Global Innovation Landscape
In 2024, 54 African countries were grouped into income categories—high, upper-middle, lower-middle, and low-income groups. The GII provided an insightful look at the diverse innovation capacities across the continent.
Notably, three African nations—Rwanda, Madagascar, and Burundi—were celebrated for exceeding their development expectations in the low-income category, reinforcing their reputations as rising innovation hubs in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Most Innovative African Countries in 2024
According to the Global Innovation Index 2024, the top 15 innovative African countries showed significant improvements in key areas of innovation. The rankings are based on a combination of factors, including investment in science, the strength of research institutions, the adoption of new technologies, and the ability to produce innovative outputs. Below are the 15 African countries that performed exceptionally well in the 2024 GII rankings, along with their global rankings and scores.
Key Findings from the 2024 GII Report
The 2024 GII report highlighted the diversity in innovation levels across African countries. It noted that despite some of the challenges faced by these nations, many have made remarkable strides, especially in Human Capital and Research, Business Sophistication, and Creative Outputs.
Mauritius, ranked 55th globally, continued to lead the continent with a score of 30.6, attributed to its robust institutions and infrastructure, as well as its ability to foster technological adoption and market sophistication.
South Africa retained its place as a regional leader, ranked 69th globally, thanks to its strong scientific research institutions and a growing emphasis on creative industries.
Botswana and Cabo Verde were recognized for their steady progress in building knowledge economies, ranking 87th and 90th globally, respectively.
Kenya, with a growing reputation as a hub for tech start-ups and innovation, ranked 96th globally, driven by advancements in mobile technology and creative outputs.
Rwanda and Madagascar, ranked 104th and 110th globally, were noted for their innovative policies and infrastructure improvements, exceeding expectations in their respective income groups.
Nigeria: A Case of Untapped Potential
Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, ranked 113th globally and 12th in Africa, with a GII score of 17.1. While Nigeria showed promise in areas such as Human Capital and Research (ranked 78th) and Creative Outputs (ranked 87th), the report emphasized its need to address weaknesses in Infrastructure (127th) and Market Sophistication (121st). Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem, powered by its youthful population, positions it for potential future gains, but significant improvements are necessary in terms of governance, investment in R&D, and technological adoption.
Innovation Across Income Groups
The GII report categorized African countries by income levels, further illustrating the continent’s diverse innovation landscape.
In the low-income group, Rwanda, Madagascar, and Burundi emerged as top performers, lauded for surpassing their development expectations in innovation. Other notable countries in this group included Togo, Uganda, Mozambique, and Ethiopia, demonstrating resilience despite economic constraints.
In the upper-middle-income group, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Mauritius led the charge, with solid infrastructure and business sophistication driving their innovation potential.
In the lower-middle-income group, countries like Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria stood out, though they were noted to have significant room for growth, particularly in strengthening institutions and infrastructure.
The Path Forward for African Innovation
Experts suggest that there is a direct correlation between innovation and economic growth. African nations need to consistently oversee and enhance funding for research and development, instill an entrepreneurial mindset in academic settings, and create environments conducive to business growth. With increased investment in these areas, African countries can continue to climb the innovation rankings and create a lasting impact on the global stage.