Why African Billionaires are the Poorest in the World

Africa is one of the richest continents in the world in terms of natural resources and has experienced impressive economic growth by the abundance of these resources.   

Despite this progress, African billionaires remain among the poorest in the world with the lowest net worth of any region. This is in contrast to the rest of the world, where billionaires are known to be some of the wealthiest people.

Net worth of African billionaires

According to Forbes’ 2021 Billionaires List, there are about 19 billionaires in Africa, with a combined net worth of $81.5 billion. However, this is a small fraction of the wealth held by the world’s wealthiest individuals. For example, Elon Musk , the founder and CEO of Tesla, has a net worth of $175 billion, which is more than twice the net worth of all African billionaires combined.

Let’s look at some determinants that contribute to African billionaires not weighing equally among the rest billionaires in the world.

Effect of colonisation

The effects of colonization on the economic development of African countries have contributed to the current financial situation of African billionaires. During the colonial era, European powers imposed political and economic structures that were designed to extract resources and wealth from African countries, rather than to develop them.

This left several African countries with underdevelopment, poverty, and economic dependence on former colonial powers. 

Deep rooted corruption

Corruption, which is prevalent in several African countries, and has a negative impact on economic growth and development contributes to the financial situation of African billionaires. 

It takes many forms, including bribery, embezzlement, and nepotism. In many cases, corruption which has become ingrained in many African economies, making it difficult to tackle is facilitated by unstructured frameworks, lack of transparency, and inadequate enforcement of anti-corruption laws. 

The great effect of corruption in African countries has stiffened the competitiveness of African economies by increasing the costs of doing business and discouraged foreign investment.

Political instability

Another significant factor that contributes to the financial situation of African billionaires is Political instability. This includes civil wars, coups, political unrest, amongst others has a negative impact on economic growth and development. 

Political unrest limits their ability to invest in productive ventures by creating an environment that gives room for an uncertain and risky environment that discourages foreign investment. It also disrupts economic activity and destroys infrastructure, reducing the competitiveness of African economies which can lead to  social and economic instability.

For instance, the current unrest in Sudan that has caused loss of life and property is a great example of several instability that African countries face which has placed limits on the strengths of these African billionaires.

Economic development

Economic underdevelopment is a significant challenge in Africa that contributes to the financial situation of African billionaires. One of the contributing factors to economic underdevelopment in Africa is poor governance. 

This is associated with corruption, political instability, and weak institutions, which hinders economic growth and development,  making it difficult for entrepreneurs and businesses to operate and thrive in Africa, limiting opportunities for wealth creation and economic growth.

Also, inadequate infrastructure. Poor roads, limited access to electricity and water, and inadequate telecommunications infrastructure make it difficult for entrepreneurs and businesses to operate efficiently and cost-effectively. This can lead to high production costs, limited market access, amongst others.

Lack of access to capital

Lack of access to capital is another significant factor that contributes to the financial situation of African billionaires. Access to capital is critical for entrepreneurs and businesses to start and grow their businesses, invest in new technologies, and expand into new markets. However, many African entrepreneurs and businesses struggle for this. 

The underdeveloped financial systems or banking systems, limited access to financial services, and high-interest rates, which make it difficult for entrepreneurs and businesses to access affordable capital is a contributing factor.