Thursday, March 28, 2024

Top 10 Most Developed Countries in Africa. Kenya get to the list

Africa is slowly changing the narrative of a poverty-stricken continent, Kenya is a good example of how it has self-propelled itself from 0.304 Human Development Index to over 0.7 within three decades.

A developed country is one that boasts features such as a developed economy, a stable and functional government, a robust infrastructure, a strong educational system, ample job opportunities, comprehensive health and social services, and a high degree of personal freedom. Countries that fall slightly short of these goals are classified as developing countries. Those that fall far short are designated the least developed countries and become eligible for specific United Nations assistance programs. The most widely used and respected measure of a country’s development status is the United Nations’ annual Human Development Index (HDI).

This advanced metric tracks a wide range of indicators, from Adult Literacy Rate and Life Expectancy to Income Inequality and Mobile Phone Subscriptions, then compiles them all into a number between 0.00 and 1.00. This score slots each country into one of four different classifications: low human development (0-.55), medium human development (.55-.70), high human development (.70-80), and very high human development (.80-1.0)

Most developed countries have a score of at least .80 and are considered “very high human development.” That said, Africa is the least-developed continent outside of Antarctica, with many of its countries still mired in issues including poverty, government corruption, and armed conflict. As of the 2020 HDI, only one of Africa’s 54 countries, Mauritius, is considered to have “very high human development.” On the bright side, eight African countries have “high human development”, and could reach the Very High plateau soon.

1. Mauritius – .804 (Very High).

Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, is known for its beaches, lagoons and reefs. The mountainous interior includes Black River Gorges National Park, with rainforests, waterfalls, hiking trails, and wildlife like the flying fox. Capital Port Louis has sites such as the Champs de Mars horse track, Eureka plantation house, and 18th-century Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens
Top 10 Most Developed Countries in Africa. Kenya get to the list

2. Seychelles – .796 (High)

The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa. It’s home to numerous beaches, coral reefs, and nature reserves, as well as rare animals such as giant Aldabra tortoises. Mahé, a hub for visiting the other islands, is home to the capital Victoria. It also has the mountain rainforests of Morne Seychellois National Park and beaches, including Beau Vallon and Anse Takamaka
Top 10 Most Developed Countries in Africa. Kenya get to the list

3. Algeria – .748 (High)

Algeria is a North African country with a Mediterranean coastline and a Saharan desert interior. Many empires have left legacies here, such as the ancient Roman ruins in seaside Tipaza. In the capital, Algiers, Ottoman landmarks like circa-1612 Ketchaoua Mosque line the hillside Casbah quarter, with its narrow alleys and stairways. The city’s Neo-Byzantine basilica Notre Dame d’Afrique dates to French colonial rule. Algeria covers an area of 2,381,741 square kilometers (919,595 sq mi), making it the world’s tenth-largest nation by area, and the largest nation in Africa.
Top 10 Most Developed Countries in Africa. Kenya get to the list

4. Tunisia – .740 (High)

Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a part of the Maghreb region of North Africa, and is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east; covering 163,610 km², with a population of 11 million.

Top 10 Most Developed Countries in Africa. Kenya get to the list

5. Botswana – .735 (High)

Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, has a landscape defined by the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, which becomes a lush animal habitat during the seasonal floods. The massive Central Kalahari Game Reserve, with its fossilized river valleys and undulating grasslands, is home to numerous animals including giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs.
Top 10 Most Developed Countries in Africa. Kenya get to the list

6. Libya – .724 (High)

Libya’s HDI value for 2021 is 0.724— which put the country in the high human development category— positioning it at 105 out of 189 countries and territories. Between 2015 and 2019, Libya’s HDI value increased from 0.697 to 0.724, an increase of 3.9 percent.

Top 10 Most Developed Countries in Africa. Kenya get to the list

7. South Africa – .709 (High)

South Africa’s HDI value for 2019 is 0.709— which put the country in the high human development category—positioning it at 114 out of 189 countries and territories. Between 1990 and 2019, South Africa’s HDI value increased from 0.627 to 0.709, an increase of 13.1 percent.

Top 10 Most Developed Countries in Africa. Kenya get to the list

8. Egypt – .707 (High)

Egypt’s HDI value for 2019 is 0.707— which put the country in the high human development category— positioning it at 116 out of 189 countries and territories. Between 1990 and 2019, Egypt’s HDI value increased from 0.548 to 0.707, an increase of 29.0 percent.

Top 10 Most Developed Countries in Africa. Kenya get to the list

Kenya – .703 (High)

Kenya’s HDI value for 2021 is 0.703— which put the country in the medium human development category—positioning it at 143 out of 189 countries and territories. Between 1990 and 2019, Kenya’s HDI value increased from 0.582 to 0.701, an increase of 24.7 percent.

Top 10 Most Developed Countries in Africa. Kenya get to the list

Morocco – .686 (Medium)

The island country of Mauritius is Africa’s most developed country with an HDI of .804, which just clears the “very high human development” threshold. Mauritius boasts a life expectancy of 75 years and a literacy rate of 91.3% and is known for its advanced economy and free health care and schooling. Globally, Mauritius still ranks 66th out of 189 countries examined, which illustrates the gap between Africa and the other continents, but other African countries can draw inspiration from the country’s success. Seychelles (7.96) lands right behind Mauritius in 67th place. The country’s economic growth is mainly driven by tourism, and the GDP has increased nearly sevenfold since 1976. Algeria has an HDI score of .748 and is the third most developed country in Africa. Algeria currently has the highest life expectancy of all African countries of 76.3 years. 

By Frank Kiwanuka. Top 10 most developed countries ranking inspired by: World Population Review

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