15 Most Advanced Countries in Africa in 2024

2. South Africa

Global Innovation Index 2023: 59

R&D Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2020: 0.6% 

South Africa has a highly industrialized and diversified economy. In 2022, the country’s GDP amounted to a staggering $405.3 billion. It has a well-developed financial sector and sophisticated transportation and telecommunication infrastructure. It is a member of the G20 group of major economies. South Africa has a rank of 12 among 33 upper-middle-income countries in the 2023 Global Innovation Index 2023.