African sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) continue to play a critical role in shaping the continent’s economic landscape, as nations seek ways to diversify their economies.
- Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) are playing a critical role in shaping Africa’s economic landscape
- Global sovereign wealth fund stood at $13 trillion as of January 2025, with China, UAE, and Norway leading
- Several African countries are recording substantial growth in their SWF assets, with Ethiopia leading at $46 billion
Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) play a pivotal role in managing and growing a country’s wealth.
These state-owned investment funds which provide economic benefits for a country and its citizens, are typically comprised of money generated by the government, often derived from a country’s surplus reserves.
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As of January 2025, the global sovereign wealth fund stood at $13 trillion led by China ($2.5 trillion), UAE ($2.3 Trillion), Norway ($1.8 trillion), Singapore ($1.1 trillion) and Saudi Arabia ($1.0 trillion).
Africa’s SWF growth
In Africa, Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) have experienced impressive growth, with assets under management (AUM) increasing by 76% and the number of investors growing by 54%.
According to PwC, African SWFs managed a significant $300 billion in 2020, providing a crucial source of investible capital for the continent.
Issa Faye, Director of Sector Economics and Development Impact at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), emphasizes that governance challenges are a key obstacle to the effective deployment of Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) capital in Africa.
These challenges, which are common in many emerging markets, prevent the flow of SWF capital into long-term, sustainable development projects with the potential to structurally transform the economies of African nations.
Over 20 African nations now operate Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs), with Ethiopia, Algeria, and Zambia at the forefront.
These funds serve as innovative mechanisms for financing both private sector growth and critical development projects.
They aim to achieve a dual purpose: ensuring financial profitability while simultaneously driving economic, social, and environmental benefits to foster sustainable development and job creation.
However, when compared to the global landscape, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for the smallest share of global Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) assets, a reflection of the region’s comparatively modest Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This reflects the lower savings and tax rates across the region, as well as limited access to fossil fuel revenues.
Despite these challenges, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have displayed resilience, maximizing the impact of the available capital to address pressing developmental needs.
According to the Global Sovereign Wealth Fund, several African countries are recording substantial growth in their SWF assets as of January 2025.
These African countries include:
| Rank | Country | SWF ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ethiopia | 46 billion |
| 2 | Algeria | 13 billion |
| 3 | Zambia | 6 billion |
| 4 | Botswana | 4 billion |
| 5 | Morocco | 3 billion |
| 6 | Nigeria | 3 billion |
| 7 | Tunisia | 3 billion |
| 8 | South Africa | 3 billion |
| 9 | Angola | 2 billion |
| 10 | Ghana | 2 billion |
Ethiopia leads with a sovereign wealth fund (SWF) of $46 billion, reflecting its efforts to diversify its economy beyond agriculture.
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Algeria follows at $13 billion, utilizing its SWF to stabilize the economy amidst oil and gas price fluctuations. Zambia’s SWF, valued at $6 billion, is driven by its copper sector, while Botswana’s $4 billion fund focuses on sustainable growth using diamond wealth.
Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, and South Africa each have sovereign wealth funds of $3 billion, focusing on infrastructure, energy projects, and economic stabilization.
These funds are instrumental in addressing Africa’s development challenges and enhancing resilience, particularly in critical sectors like energy and sustainable investments.
