Wef 2025: Africas 1.5 Trillion Tech Opportunity

Artificial intelligence AI and emerging technologies, such as the internet of things IoT and big data analytics, are rapidly evolving, with the potential to transform society and the economy. In Africa, these innovations promise to drive economic growth by boosting productivity, creating new jobs and business opportunities particularly for young people and improving citizens access to information, fostering more intelligent and dynamic economies.

AI and emerging technologies are projected to contribute around 1.5 trillion to Africas GDP by 2030, driving transformative changes across various sectors. These technologies can enhance agricultural productivity through precision farming, improve the efficiency and responsiveness of government services, expand access to quality healthcare, support environmental sustainability, and revolutionize education through personalized learning. Such advancements are essential for accelerating Africas development and fostering sustainable growth.

With a strategic and inclusive approach, African countries can leverage AI and emerging technologies as transformative tools to drive sustainable development and improve the quality of life across the continent. However, to fully realise their potential, it is essential to address several critical challenges.

As of 2023, only about 37 of Africas population had access to the internet. Despite this, the continent faces some of the highest fixed broadband costs globally, averaging 14.8 of gross national income GNI far exceeding the International Telecommunication Unions ITU recommended benchmark of 2. These high costs remain a significant barrier to digital inclusion, particularly in low-income and rural areas.

As a result, mobile connectivity has become the primary means of accessing the internet in Africa. By 2023, mobile penetration in sub-Saharan Africa stood at 46, while mobile internet penetration lagged at just 25, despite mobile broadband coverage reaching 85 of the region. Several factors hinder mobile internet adoption, including affordability smartphones can cost up to 95 of the monthly income for the poorest 20 a lack of digital skills, insufficient locally relevant content and language barriers, given that approximately 2,000 languages are spoken in Africa.