Country rankings

Most Developed Countries in Africa

Seychelles has the highest Human Development Index in 2023 (0.848), followed by Mauritius (0.806) and Algeria (0.763). South Sudan has the lowest (0.388).

Economics54 countries · 1 metricUpdated May 14, 2025Original page
2 sources
Human Development IndexBetter directionWhether a higher or a lower value is better. A green arrow means higher is better, a red arrow means lower is better, and no arrow means neither.More in the glossary →
54 of 235 countries
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Human Development Index, 2023

Darker green is better (higher is better). Click a place to highlight it.

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All 54 ranked

Best first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one country; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
0.567
Middle half 0.505 – 0.661
Average
0.58
54 countries
Highest
0.848
Seychelles
Lowest
0.388
South Sudan

Over time · 1990–2023

The top 5 in 2023, against the median.

  • Median of all countries
  • Seychelles
  • Mauritius
  • Algeria
  • Egypt
  • Tunisia

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

54 countries · # = rank by Human Development Index
#
1Seychelles0.848
2Mauritius0.806
3Algeria0.763
4Egypt0.754
5Tunisia0.746
6South Africa0.741
7Gabon0.733
8Botswana0.731
9Libya0.721
10Morocco0.71
11Eswatini0.695
12Equatorial Guinea0.674
13Cape Verde0.668
14Namibia0.665
15Republic of the Congo0.649
16Sao Tome and Principe0.637
17Kenya0.628
17Ghana0.628
19Angola0.616
20Comoros0.603
21Zimbabwe0.598
22Zambia0.595
23Cameroon0.588
24Uganda0.582
24Ivory Coast0.582
26Rwanda0.578
27Togo0.571
28Mauritania0.563
29Nigeria0.56
30Tanzania0.555
31Lesotho0.55
32Senegal0.53
33Gambia0.524
34DR Congo0.522
35Malawi0.517
36Benin0.515
37Guinea-Bissau0.514
38Djibouti0.513
39Sudan0.511
40Liberia0.51
41Eritrea0.503
42Guinea0.5
43Ethiopia0.497
44Mozambique0.493
45Madagascar0.487
46Sierra Leone0.467
47Burkina Faso0.459
48Burundi0.439
49Niger0.419
49Mali0.419
51Chad0.416
52Central African Republic0.414
53Somalia0.404
54South Sudan0.388

What correlates with Human Development Index (2023)?

Pearson r against 1,341 other country metrics sharing at least 33 countries. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Human Development Index tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

  1. GDI Male Human DevelopmentGender Development Index by Country
    r = +0.99 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  2. GDI Female Human DevelopmentGender Development Index by Country
    r = +0.99 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  3. Education IndexEducation Index by Country
    r = +0.93 · very strong · n = 54
    Plot
  4. Quality of Life Score (CEO World)Standard of Living by Country
    r = +0.92 · very strong · n = 54
    Plot
  5. HousingSocial Progress Index by Country
    r = +0.91 · very strong · n = 53
    Plot
  6. LP EducationLegatum Prosperity IndexA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = −0.91 · very strong · n = 54
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Human Development Index tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)

  1. % of Pop. in Multidimensional PovertyPoverty Rate by Country
    r = −0.92 · very strong · n = 46
    Plot
  2. Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) ScorePoverty Rate by Country
    r = −0.90 · very strong · n = 46
    Plot
  3. Mortality To Incidence RatioCervical Cancer Rates by Country
    r = −0.90 · very strong · n = 53
    Plot
  4. Individuals Making Under $10kWealth Inequality by Country
    r = −0.83 · very strong · n = 48
    Plot
  5. Public ServicesFailed States
    r = −0.83 · very strong · n = 54
    Plot
  6. Miscarriage Rate (Lower Limit)Miscarriage Rates by Country
    r = −0.81 · very strong · n = 53
    Plot

Quick answers

Which country has the highest Human Development Index?
Seychelles has the highest Human Development Index in 2023, at 0.848, followed by Mauritius (0.806) and Algeria (0.763).
Which country has the lowest Human Development Index?
South Sudan has the lowest Human Development Index in 2023, at 0.388.
What is the median Human Development Index across countries?
The median is 0.567 across the 54 countries with data in 2023.
Where does this most developed countries in africa data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Human Development Index 2020 - United Nations; Here are Africa's most developed countries in 2018.

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