Influential countries: Tunisia beats 1st economy in Africa, +6 places in world ranking

Last month, the German think tank SWP issued its report on “middle powers.” Among the 12 that stand out most on the international political and economic stage, four are African: Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa. On February 29, 2024, it was the British firm Brand Finance’s turn to publish its annual ranking of the most influential nations in the world. Indeed, this year, no African nation is in the Top 30 – that might change in 2025 with this year’s growth rates – but there is still considerable satisfaction on the continent, including in Tunisia, which has risen six places in the world rankings.

Tunisia ranks 77th globally and 5th in the Top 10 African Soft Powers, ahead of the continent’s leading economic powerhouse, Nigeria (79th globally), and just behind Algeria (73rd globally, with a stunning gain of 13 places) and Morocco (50th globally, up by 5 places). The two most influential African countries in the world in 2024 remain Egypt and South Africa. For the first time, Brand Finance has grabbed a closer look at the 193 member countries of the United Nations.

While Cairo and Pretoria are at their peak in Africa, they are losing places – one for the former and three for the latter. However, alongside this, many African countries have moved up several notches in this year’s Top 20. Globally, the USA maintains its rank as number 1 in soft power.

Top 10 African Soft Powers:

1. Egypt 39th in the world (lost 1 place)
2. South Africa 43rd in the world (lost 3 places)
3. Morocco 50th in the world (won 5 places)
4. Algeria 73rd in the world (gained 13 places)
5. Tunisia 77th in the world (gained 6 places)
6. Nigeria 79th in the world (went up 14 places)
7. Ghana 85th in the world (went up 7 places)
8. Tanzania 93rd in the world (gained 5 places)
9. Senegal 94th in the world (won 9 places)
10. Kenya 95th in the world (won 5 places)
11. Mauritius 97th in the world (lost 30 places)
12. Madagascar 103rd in the world (lost one place)
13. Rwanda 104th in the world (lost 19 places)
14. Ivory Coast 108th in the world (lost 21 places)
15. Cameroon 110th in the world (lost one place)
16. Zambia 113th in the world (lost 1 place)
17. DRC 114th in the world (lost 7 places)
18. Ethiopia 115th in the world (lost 5 places)
19. Angola 116th in the world (lost 5 places)
20. Central African Republic (Classified for the first time)