Namibia: Namibia has been ranked as the standout performer of the 2026 African Performance Index, leaping from 15th to third place overall due to its political stability, improved governance, and better economic infrastructure.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the 2026 performance index by Jeune Afrique and The Africa Report evaluates African nations on governance, influence, and innovation instead of traditional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) metrics. The report released on Thursday indicates that South Africa tops the list, followed by Mauritius.

Public Relations Consultant at Jeune Afrique, Thibaut Cabrera, noted that Namibia's 12-place rise demonstrates increasing international recognition and a commitment to long-term stability and structural reform, backed by strong performance in key indicators. "Namibia records the strongest rise of the year. Its political stability, its infrastructure, its financial market, its natural resources, and the improvement of its governance indicators, notably its ability to collect taxes, make it the great revelation of this edition," he said.

He emphasised that the primary reason for Namibia's increase is the introduction of the tax burden criterion. "With the tax rate projected to rise from 19.94 per cent of GDP in 2022 to 31.11 per cent in 2024, as reported by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Namibia ranks among the top African nations in mobilising domestic resources, an essential factor in assessing a government's ability to finance public policies," he noted.

Professor Carlos Lopes of the University of Cape Town's Mandela School of Public Governance said the increase is partly attributed to strong tax collection results, reflecting a well-structured administration and superior public financing capacity compared to many peer countries. He added: "Around this foundation stone, the overall picture remains robust, driven by solid institutions, relatively developed infrastructure, strong regional integration, and hydrocarbon discoveries that are enhancing the country's attractiveness to foreign investors."

Morocco secured fourth place, supported by its sustained investments in infrastructure and industry. African heavyweights Nigeria (fifth) and Egypt (sixth) maintain their high standing through market scale and innovation, while Rwanda (seventh), Ghana (eighth), C´te d'Ivoire (ninth), and Kenya (10th) round out the top 10.