Prosperity is about more than just money. While economic growth often grabs headlines, a country's prosperity is increasingly measured by how well its people live, learn, stay healthy, and share in the benefits of development.
According to the Atlantic Council’s 2026 Prosperity Index, Africa’s most prosperous nations are those that have managed to combine economic opportunity with strong social outcomes, environmental sustainability, and greater inclusion.
The index measures both individual well-being—through indicators such as income, education, and health—and shared prosperity, including environmental quality, income equality, and the well-being of minority groups. Countries are ranked based on the equally weighted average of six indicators and grouped into categories ranging from "High Prosperity" to "Lowest Prosperity."
The rankings highlight an important reality: the world's richest countries are not always the most prosperous.
Globally, Europe dominates the rankings, accounting for 30 of the top 40 countries, with Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Sweden all placing in the global top five.
