Which country in Africa has the highest human development?

The Seychelles has the highest human development in Africa: an index of 0.848 (2023). Next come Mauritius (an index of 0.806) and Algeria (an index of 0.763).

Which country in Africa has the lowest human development?

The South Sudan, with an index of 0.388 (2023).

What is the typical human development index of a country in Africa?

The median of the 54 countries in Africa is an index of 0.567: half are above it, half below. The median, not the average, because a few countries at the top would drag an average far above almost everyone.

Where do the figures come from?

The United Nations Development Programme’s index of a long and healthy life, education and a decent standard of living, from 0 to 1. Source: UNDP, 2023. Only independent states are ranked; territories are listed separately. A country’s continent follows Natural Earth; the handful of island states it files under the open ocean are placed by their UN subregion.

Countries in Africa by human development index

The United Nations Development Programme’s index of a long and healthy life, education and a decent standard of living, from 0 to 1. 54 countries in Africa, highest first. UNDP, 2023

See it on the map

Map: Human Development Index — Africa — **0.550.650.730.790.840.92**No data

Highest

0.848

Seychelles

Median country

0.567

half above, half below

Lowest

0.388

South Sudan

Countries in Africa by human development index, UNDP, 2023
#	Country	HDI	Region
1	Seychelles	0.848	Eastern Africa
2	Mauritius	0.806	Eastern Africa
3	Algeria	0.763	Northern Africa
4	Egypt	0.754	Northern Africa
5	Tunisia	0.746	Northern Africa
6	South Africa	0.741	Southern Africa
7	Gabon	0.733	Middle Africa
8	Botswana	0.731	Southern Africa
9	Libya	0.721	Northern Africa
10	Morocco	0.710	Northern Africa
11	Eswatini	0.695	Southern Africa
12	Equatorial Guinea	0.674	Middle Africa
13	Cabo Verde	0.668	Western Africa
14	Namibia	0.665	Southern Africa
15	Congo	0.649	Middle Africa
16	São Tomé and Principe	0.637	Middle Africa
=17	Ghana	0.628	Western Africa
=17	Kenya	0.628	Eastern Africa
19	Angola	0.616	Middle Africa
20	Comoros	0.603	Eastern Africa
21	Zimbabwe	0.598	Eastern Africa
22	Zambia	0.595	Eastern Africa
23	Cameroon	0.588	Middle Africa
=24	Côte d'Ivoire	0.582	Western Africa
=24	Uganda	0.582	Eastern Africa
26	Rwanda	0.578	Eastern Africa
27	Togo	0.571	Western Africa
28	Mauritania	0.563	Western Africa
29	Nigeria	0.560	Western Africa
30	Tanzania	0.555	Eastern Africa
31	Lesotho	0.550	Southern Africa
32	Senegal	0.530	Western Africa
33	Gambia	0.524	Western Africa
34	DR Congo	0.522	Middle Africa
35	Malawi	0.517	Eastern Africa
36	Benin	0.515	Western Africa
37	Guinea-Bissau	0.514	Western Africa
38	Djibouti	0.513	Eastern Africa
39	Sudan	0.511	Northern Africa
40	Liberia	0.510	Western Africa
41	Eritrea	0.503	Eastern Africa
42	Guinea	0.500	Western Africa
43	Ethiopia	0.497	Eastern Africa
44	Mozambique	0.493	Eastern Africa
45	Madagascar	0.487	Eastern Africa
46	Sierra Leone	0.467	Western Africa
47	Burkina Faso	0.459	Western Africa
48	Burundi	0.439	Eastern Africa
=49	Mali	0.419	Western Africa
=49	Niger	0.419	Western Africa
51	Chad	0.416	Middle Africa
52	Central African Republic	0.414	Middle Africa
53	Somalia	0.404	Eastern Africa
54	South Sudan	0.388	Eastern Africa

Questions

Which country in Africa has the highest human development?: The Seychelles has the highest human development in Africa: an index of 0.848 (2023). Next come Mauritius (an index of 0.806) and Algeria (an index of 0.763).
Which country in Africa has the lowest human development?: The South Sudan, with an index of 0.388 (2023).
What is the typical human development index of a country in Africa?: The median of the 54 countries in Africa is an index of 0.567: half are above it, half below. The median, not the average, because a few countries at the top would drag an average far above almost everyone.
Where do the figures come from?: The United Nations Development Programme’s index of a long and healthy life, education and a decent standard of living, from 0 to 1. Source: UNDP, 2023. Only independent states are ranked; territories are listed separately. A country’s continent follows Natural Earth; the handful of island states it files under the open ocean are placed by their UN subregion.

Source: UNDP. Countries sharing a value share a rank. All sources.