Omanghana
Mauritius, Seychelles and Botswana have ranked as Africa’s leading economies in the inaugural Global Capitalism Index, which assesses how freely capital can be deployed in open markets.
Developed by researchers at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and Karsh Institute of Democracy, the index covers 161 countries and territories, drawing on institutional and economic data from 2009 to 2025.
Mauritius placed 48th globally, followed by Seychelles in 50th position and Botswana in 52nd. Switzerland topped the worldwide rankings, ahead of the United States and Hong Kong.
The index examines constraints on market activity from both public and private sources. Its approach focuses on the conditions that allow capital to move and businesses to compete, rather than simply measuring the size of an economy.
Within Africa, Mauritius’s leading position reflects its governance structures, openness to the movement of goods and capital, and competitive market environment. Seychelles and Botswana also performed strongly, supported by favorable business conditions and institutional frameworks.
Namibia ranked fourth on the continent and 59th globally, while Cape Verde followed in fifth place in Africa and 66th worldwide. Rwanda secured the continent’s sixth position, placing 74th globally, with Morocco seventh in Africa and 85th overall.
The results also revealed substantial differences among African economies. Of the 47 countries assessed on the continent, 20 recorded scores below 50 out of 100.
Libya, Chad and Mauritania were among the lowest-ranked African countries, with restrictions on commercial activity and institutional challenges weighing on their performance.
The findings highlight the uneven conditions for investment and market participation across Africa, with the continent’s leading performers still positioned outside the global top 40.
Source: Omanghana
