Thought of the Day

Africa’s Data Quality Problem


 
18 October 2024
 
African GDP and Population data are both of very poor quality. Governance is also rated as being very poor, with many autocratic rulers interfering with economic data quality. Only 4% of African countries are rated as having A or B grade GDP data. The same percentage applies for Population data. Only 11% are rated as having A or B grade Governance. And eight of the top ten largest (by GDP) sub-Saharan countries are rated as having D or E grade data. In these circumstances World Economics believes pan-African GDP or Population size, or measures such as GDP per Capita or Debt per Capita that dependent on either GDP or Population data, should be treated with circumspection.

GDP Data Quality Ratings
Grade: A = as good as it gets -> E: extremely poor quality
Africa’s Data Quality Problem
Africa’s Data Quality Problem

Source: World Economics

In comparison 90% of European countries produce good quality GDP data while Asia and the Americas report 40% and 37% respectively.
 


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