South Africa, Nigeria Lead Africa’s Climb in Global Tech Rankings
Amid global VC declines, African tech ecosystems rise in rankings, with Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya leading regional startup growth.
Despite a global contraction in venture capital (VC) investments, African tech ecosystems are showing promising signs of growth and resilience, according to the 2025 Dealroom Global Tech Ecosystem Index .
The report highlights that while global startup ecosystems lost $3.8 trillion in value since 2021, African nations have climbed the ranks in ecosystem development. South Africa and Nigeria are leading the continent, both improving their global standings — South Africa rising to 41st and Nigeria to 47th. Meanwhile, Kenya maintains a strong presence, ranked 54th globally, and Egypt follows closely at 59th.
These countries continue to benefit from increased startup activity and investment interest. Africa is notably the only region where the number of VC rounds increased year-over-year, countering the broader global downturn.
While major tech hubs in the US and China experienced a decline in ecosystem value, African cities like Cape Town, Lagos, and Nairobi are steadily attracting attention, reflecting a shift toward more diversified global investment landscapes.
Africa’s upward momentum in the tech ecosystem rankings underscores the continent’s growing importance in the global innovation economy, even as overall valuations fall elsewhere.
