Apr 24, 2025
A Visual Breakdown of Where Economic Power Lies in 2025
Key Takeaways
- Northern America and Europe are powerhouses of the world economy for their population size
- Together they account more than half of global GDP with only 15% of the population
- Africa is a significant under-performer for its population
The Africa Story
For its size, Africa doesn’t have as much influence on the world stage.
The second-most populous continent only contributes 2% to the global economy. For context, the region’s entire economic output equals that of France (roughly $3T).
An MIT paper (linked in the source) identified many historical shocks to the economy, including the slave trade and colonization, as well as the lack of institution building, to explain part of the region’s struggles.