Africa's AI Leaders: Egypt, South Africa, and Ghana Take the Lead
According to the "Global AI Index" published by the British weekly The Observer on December 4, 2025, Egypt, South Africa, and Ghana are positioning themselves as the African leaders in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). This ranking, which evaluates 93 countries, is based on 108 indicators divided into three pillars — investment, innovation, and implementation — and seven sub-pillars: talent, infrastructure, operational environment, research, development, business ecosystem, and government strategy.
Africa's Top 3 AI Leaders
- Egypt: With a global score of 13 points, Egypt leads the African continent, thanks to its strong government strategy (56 points) and favorable operational environment (38 points).
- South Africa: Ranked 54th globally, South Africa follows closely, with a strong presence in the AI sector.
- Ghana: With a global ranking of 61st, Ghana completes the top 3 African leaders in AI, demonstrating significant potential for growth and development.
Challenges and Opportunities for Africa
The report highlights that most African countries remain at the bottom of the global ranking, penalized by a lack of sustained investments in AI, limited capacity in semiconductors and high-performance computing, as well as a limited number of specialized start-ups and qualified developers. However, African countries have assets to exploit, including:
- A young population
- An expanding digital market
- Increasingly open public and private sectors to innovative technologies
To accelerate their progress, these nations must:
- Strengthen their infrastructure
- Invest in training and research
- Develop public policies that promote innovation and the adoption of AI
By doing so, the continent can transform its strengths into opportunities and better position itself in the global competition, currently dominated by the United States, China, and Singapore.
Top 10 African Countries in the Global AI Race
- Egypt (47th globally)
- South Africa (54th)
- Ghana (61st)
- Algeria (65th)
- Morocco (68th)
- Nigeria (69th)
- Mauritius (70th)
- Kenya (74th)
- Senegal (75th)
- Côte d'Ivoire (84th)
- Tunisia (85th)
The African continent has the potential to become a major player in the global AI landscape, and with the right investments and strategies, it can overcome its current challenges and seize the opportunities presented by this rapidly evolving technology.
