Top 20 Smartest Countries in Africa, 2024

Studies have shown that intelligence levels in Africa are similar to those in other parts of the world, and that cultural and environmental factors play a significant role in determining intellectual achievement. However, access to education and other resources can vary greatly across the continent, which can affect overall intelligence levels. According to the Intelligence Capital Index, South Africa is one of the smartest countries in Africa, followed by Mauritius, Tunisia, Botswana, and Morocco rounding out the top 5.

The Intelligence Capital Index gauges the ability of countries to capitalise on the knowledge economy by assessing their environments for education, creativity and talent attraction.

Top 20 Smartest Countries in Africa 2024

1. South Africa

South Africa is a developing country, ranking 114th on the Human Development Index. The country has the highest rates of education enrollment in Africa. The country also has the highest number of Nobel Prize winners in Africa.

South Africa is the smartest country in Africa.

2. Mauritius

The adult literacy rate in Mauritius was estimated at 92.7% in 2015. Mauritius was ranked 52nd in the Global Innovation Index in 2020 (The Global Innovation Index is an annual ranking of countries by their capacity for, and success in, innovation), and number one in Africa. The government of Mauritius provides free education to its citizens from pre-primary to tertiary level.

With an Intelligence Capital Index (ICI) of 31.70, Mauritius is the second smartest country in Africa.

3. Tunisia

Located in North Africa, Tunisia is one of the few countries in Africa that ranks high in the Human Development Index.

The total adult literacy rate in 2008 was 78% and this rate goes up to 97.3% when considering only people from 15 to 24 years old. Education is given a high priority and accounts for 6% of GNP. A basic education for children between the ages of 6 and 16 has been made compulsory since 1991.

With an Intelligence Capital Index (ICI) of 24.81, Tunisia is the third smartest country in Africa.

4. Botswana

Formerly one of the world’s poorest countries—with a GDP per capita of about US$70 per year in the late 1960s—Botswana has since transformed itself into an upper middle income country, with one of the world fastest-growing economies and it’s all thanks to the patriotism and smartness of their leaders and citizens alike.

With an Intelligence Capital Index (ICI), Botswana is the forth most intelligent country in Africa and the second most intelligent country in Southern Africa.

5. Morocco

Since independence, Morocco has remained relatively stable and prosperous. It has the fifth-largest economy in Africa and wields significant influence in both Africa and the Arab world; Education in Morocco is free and compulsory through primary school. The estimated literacy rate for the country in 2012 was 72%.

With an Intelligence Capital Index (ICI) ranking of 22.57, Morocco is the fifth smartest country in Africa.

6. Egypt

In this transcontinental country that spans the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia, Basic education, which includes six years of primary and three years of preparatory school, is a right for every kid from the age of six.

With an Intelligence Capital Index (ICI) ranking of 21.55, Egypt is the 6th most intelligent country in Africa.

7. Kenya

Kenya has a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.555 (medium), and is ranked 145 out of 186 in the world.

In Kenya, basic formal education starts at age six and lasts 12 years, consisting of eight years in primary school and four in high school or secondary. Primary school is free in public schools.

With an Intelligence Capital Index (ICI) ranking of 19.31, Kenya is the 7th most intelligent country in Africa and the smartest country in East Updated: Top 10 Oldest African Presidents.

8. Algeria

Algeria is a regional power in North Africa, and a middle power in global affairs. It has the highest Human Development Index of all non-island African countries and one of the largest economies on the continent. Algeria is the 8th most intelligent country in Africa.

9. Zambia

Zambia is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa.

With an Intelligence Capital Index (ICI) ranking of 18.93, Zambia is the 9th most intelligent country in Africa and the second most intelligent country in East Africa.

10. Namibia 18.89

Namibia has free education for both primary and secondary education levels. Grades 1–7 are primary level, grades 8–12 are secondary.

With an Intelligence Capital Index (ICI) ranking of 18.89, Namibia is the second smartest country in East Africa.

Top 20 Smartest Countries in Africa, 2024

Methodology

The ICI ranking above is a barometer of a nation’s stock of “smarts”. It measures which nations are most likely to expand the frontier of knowledge and/or introduce the technology and innovations of the knowledge economy.

In contrast to alternative measures of human capital and talent, the ICI has several distinguishing features: (i) It adjusts for quality in education outcomes; (ii) It measures the progression of cognitive skills through the human life cycle; (iii) It considers the distribution of cognitive skills with an emphasis on the top performers; and (iv) It includes an external channel (migration) for human capital acquisition.

Basically it takes these indexes into consideration (1) Quantity of education; (2) Quality of education; (3) Average educational skills; (4) Elite educational skills; (5) Creativity and complexity; and (6) Attractiveness and openness to talent.

The information provided in the article on the above and the accompanying Intelligence Capital Index (ICI) ranking is based on available data and measures various factors related to education, creativity, talent attraction, and more. Intelligence is a complex concept, and the ICI may not fully represent a country’s overall capabilities. Readers are advised to consider multiple sources and exercise critical thinking when interpreting the data.

Revised in November 2024.