MBABANE - Eswatini has cemented its position among Africa’s most industrialised economies, ranking seventh on the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Africa Industrialisation Index (AII) 2025.
This is despite growing competition across the continent and a changing industrial landscape that has seen Morocco overtake South Africa as Africa’s leading industrial economy.
The latest report places Eswatini among the continent’s top 10 industrial performers with an overall score of 0.6509, ahead of larger economies such as Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Botswana. Only Morocco, South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, Mauritius and Algeria ranked higher.
The ranking highlights Eswatini’s longstanding strength in manufacturing and industrial production, even as the report points to emerging challenges that the kingdom must address if it is to maintain its position among Africa’s industrial leaders.
The report arrives at a time when industrialisation is increasingly viewed as the key pathway for Africa to create jobs, diversify exports, build resilient economies and reduce dependence on raw commodity exports.
According to the AfDB, industrialisation remains the most credible route for structural transformation and long-term prosperity across the continent.
One of the biggest findings of the report is Morocco’s rise to the number one position, ending South Africa’s dominance that had lasted since 2010.
The AfDB attributes Morocco’s ascent to sustained industrial upgrading, export diversification and effective implementation of industrial policies, while South Africa has experienced a gradual erosion of industrial competitiveness over the years.
Morocco achieved a score of 0.8415, narrowly edging South Africa’s 0.8396. Egypt and Tunisia occupied third and fourth positions respectively, while Mauritius completed the top five. Algeria ranked sixth, followed by Eswatini in seventh place.
The report notes that Eswatini and Algeria have alternated between sixth and seventh positions for much of the period under review, highlighting the kingdom’s consistent presence among Africa’s industrial elite.
Among Southern African countries, Eswatini stands out for the significant contribution manufacturing makes to the economy.
The report reveals that manufacturing value added accounted for 28.1 per cent of Eswatini’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, the highest share recorded in Southern Africa. This is far above the regional average of 11.6 per cent and nearly three times the African average of 10.6 per cent.
Although the figure has declined from 32.5 per cent in 2010, the kingdom remains the region’s standout performer in terms of manufacturing’s contribution to national output.
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