List of Africa’s most digitally competitive countries in 2024

In today’s world, being digitally competitive is key to driving economic growth. The rapid shift to digital tools by businesses, governments, and everyday people highlights how important solid digital infrastructure is for sparking innovation and boosting efficiency.

From data-powered economies to automation and tech advancements in healthcare and manufacturing, it’s clear that staying digitally ahead isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must.

Yet, disparities in digital infrastructure development present a significant obstacle. Many economies, particularly in developing regions, struggle with inadequate access to high-speed broadband, reliable electricity, and modern telecommunications networks. These shortcomings restrict their ability to participate in the global digital economy.

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), while broadband access has improved worldwide, vast gaps persist—particularly in rural and underserved areas. This lack of access hinders economic growth and places less-developed nations at a disadvantage in the global digital ecosystem.

Countries with advanced digital ecosystems benefit from smoother transitions to automation and other high-tech solutions, while less developed regions face mounting challenges in catching up. The disparity in digital infrastructure not only limits economic opportunities but also widens social inequities.

This year, the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2024 evaluated 67 economies, with Ghana, Nigeria, and Puerto Rico appearing for the first time. The rankings assess countries’ abilities to adopt and explore digital technologies as a driver for economic transformation.

The IMD framework uses 59 criteria—38 quantitative measures and 21 survey-based indicators—to rank countries from most to least digitally competitive. For over 30 years, the IMD World Competitiveness Center has led research on national competitiveness, focusing on sustainable value creation.