US dollar bills are shown, representing Nigeria’s efforts to support the foreign exchange market amid economic challenges.
Mauritius is Africa’s most capitalist economy, followed by Seychelles and Botswana, according to the 2026 Global Capitalism Index. The ranking assesses 161 countries and territories using 213 datasets covering property rights, competition, labor markets, financial systems, business creation, and cross-border capital flows. Mauritius scored 73.9 out of 100, reflecting relatively strong market openness and supportive institutions. It ranked 48th worldwide. South Africa ranked 7th in Africa and 78th globally, while Benin placed 8th continentally and 80th worldwide. Namibia, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Morocco, and Egypt complete the continent’s top 10. Nigeria ranked 147th globally, among the continent’s weakest performers. Twenty African countries scored below 50 points, with Libya, Chad, and Mauritania near the bottom.