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 the smartest country in Africa.
2. Mauritius
With an Intelligence Capital Index (ICI) of 31.70, Mauritius is the second smartest country in Africa.
3. Tunisia
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
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
With an Intelligence Capital Index (ICI) ranking of 22.57, Morocco is the fifth smartest country in Africa.
6. Egypt
With an Intelligence Capital Index (ICI) ranking of 21.55, Egypt is the 6th most intelligent country in Africa.
7. Kenya
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
9. Zambia
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
Rank | Country | Intelligence Capital Index (ICI) |
---|---|---|
1 | South Africa | 32.98 |
2 | Mauritius | 31.70 |
3 | Tunisia | 24.81 |
4 | Botswana | 23.90 |
5 | Morocco | 22.57 |
6 | Egypt | 21.55 |
7 | Kenya | 19.31 |
8 | Algeria | 19.06 |
9 | Zambia | 18.93 |
10 | Namibia | 18.89 |
11 | Cameroon | 17.75 |
12 | Ghana | 17.40 |
13 | Lesotho | 16.07 |
14 | Tanzania | 14.37 |
15 | Nigeria | 13.88 |
16 | Senegal | 13.16 |
17 | Benin | 12.83 |
18 | Uganda | 12.41 |
19 | Zimbabwe | 11.69 |
20 | Mauritania | 11.65 |
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 July 2024.