It is not a surprise knowing that some countries are better positioned than others.
Several factors are considered when coming up with the most powerful African country.
A strong military, great political influence, a stable economy and strong international alliances are some of the things that distinguish powerful nations.
According to 2021’s Global Fire Power Index, 0.0000 is considered the perfect score. Here is the list of countries that make the top 7 across the continent.
1. Egypt
Egypt has 450,000 active military personnel and a $10 billion military budget in 2021. Officially called the Arab Republic of Egypt, the country is the third most populous country on the African continent and the most populated nation in the Arab world. As per 2021 United Nations statistics, it has about 104 million inhabitants and a nominal GDP per capita of approximately $4,028.42. The nation has a power index rating of 0.2216, making it the first on the list of the top powerful countries in Africa. It has an estimated 450,000 active military personnel and a defence budget of about $10 billion.
2. Algeria
The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria has an approximate population of 43 million and a nominal GDP per capita of $3,815.25. As of 2021, the country’s power index rating is 0.4439, with a defence budget of about $13.904 billion and approximate total active military personnel of 130,000.
3. South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is one of the most powerful countries in Africa in 2021, with about 56 million people and a nominal GDP per capita of $5,121.04. As of 2021, the nation has a power index rating of 0.5665, estimated total active military personnel of 66,500 and a defence budget of about $3.597 billion in 2021.
4. Nigeria
The Federal Republic of Nigeria has an approximate population of 214 million, making it the seventh most populous nation globally. The country’s nominal GDP per capita is $2,396.04. As of 2021, its power index rating is 0.6241, with estimated total active military personnel of 120,000 and a defence budget of about $2.1 billion.
5. Morocco
The Kingdom of Morocco has an approximate population of 36 million and a nominal GDP per capita of $3,126.96. It has a power index rating of 0.8739, making it fifth on the list of powerful countries in Africa in 2021. The nation has an estimated active military personnel of 310,000 and a defence budget of about $6 billion.
6. Angola
The Republic of Angola has an estimated population of 33 million, which makes it the seventh-largest country in Africa. It has a nominal GDP per capita of $3,213.78 and a power index rating of 1.0799. Angola’s total active military personnel is 110,000, and its defence budget is $7.65 billion in 2021.
7. Ethiopia
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has an approximate population of 108 million and nominal GDP per capita of $826.95. The country’s power index rating is 1.0901, with estimated total active military personnel of 162,000 and a defence budget of about $520 million in 2021.
