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Capital Africa
All marketsCompare

8 Markets, Side by Side.

Seven West African markets, plus Kenya beyond the region. Every cell carries the year it refers to and the source it came from. Where the research did not establish something, the cell says so rather than estimating.

Researched markets compared across 17 attributes
AttributeSierra LeoneBriefingGuineaBriefingLiberiaBriefingGhanaBriefingThe GambiaBriefingMaliBriefingBurkina FasoBriefingKenyaBriefing
CoveragePrimary hubPrimary hubAvailable case by caseAvailable case by caseResearch marketAvailable case by caseAvailable case by caseResearch market
CapitalFreetownConakryMonroviaAccraBanjulBamakoOuagadougouNairobi
CurrencyLeone (SLE)source [3]Guinean franc (GNF)source [2]Liberian dollar, alongside the US dollar (LRD)source [3]Ghana cedi (GHS)source [3]Gambian dalasi (GMD)source [4]West African CFA franc (XOF)source [2]West African CFA franc (XOF)source [3]Kenya shilling (KES)source [4]
Monetary authorityBank of Sierra Leonesource [3]Banque Centrale de la République de Guinée (BCRG)source [2]Central Bank of Liberiasource [3]Bank of Ghanasource [3]Central Bank of The Gambiasource [4]Banque Centrale des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO)source [2]Banque Centrale des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO)source [3]Central Bank of Kenyasource [4]
Population8.82 million2025 · source [7]15.10 million2025 · source [3]5.73 million2025 · source [5]35.06 million2025 · source [7]2.82 million2025 · source [6]25.20 million2025 · source [5]24.07 million2025 · source [5]57.53 million2025 · source [7]
GDPUSD 7.46 billion2025 · source [7]USD 28.35 billion2025 · source [3]USD 5.25 billion2025 · source [5]USD 114.21 billion2025 · source [7]USD 2.59 billion2025 · source [6]USD 30.07 billion2025 · source [5]USD 27.63 billion2025 · source [5]USD 135.94 billion2025 · source [7]
GDP per capitaUSD 8462025 · source [7]USD 1,8772025 · source [3]USD 9152025 · source [5]USD 3,2572025 · source [7]USD 9192025 · source [6]USD 1,1932025 · source [5]USD 1,1482025 · source [5]USD 2,3632025 · source [7]
Regional blocsECOWAS, Mano River Union, African Union, AfCFTAECOWAS, Mano River Union, African Union, AfCFTAECOWAS, Mano River Union, African Union, AfCFTAECOWAS, African Union, AfCFTA (Secretariat hosted in Accra)ECOWAS, African Union, AfCFTAUEMOA and the West African Monetary Union (current member), Alliance of Sahel States (AES), African Union, Withdrew from ECOWAS with effect from 29 January 2025UEMOA and the West African Monetary Union (current member), Alliance of Sahel States (AES), African Union, Withdrew from ECOWAS with effect from 29 January 2025East African Community (EAC), COMESA, African Union, AfCFTA
Investment authorityNational Investment Board, incorporating SLIEPAsource [1]Agence de Promotion des Investissements Privés (APIP)source [1]National Investment Commission (NIC)source [1]Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA)source [1]Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA)source [1]Agence pour la Promotion des Investissements au Mali (API-Mali)source [4]Agence Burkinabè des Investissements (API-BF)source [1]Kenya Investment Authority (InvestKenya), with the State Department for Investment Promotionsource [2]
Business registrationCorporate Affairs Commissionsource [6]APIP, guichet uniquesource [1]Liberia Business Registry (LBR)source [2]Office of the Registrar of Companiessource [1]Not establishedNot establishedNot establishedBusiness Registration Servicesource [3]
Revenue authorityNational Revenue Authoritysource [6]Not establishedLiberia Revenue Authoritysource [4]Ghana Revenue Authoritysource [4]Not establishedNot establishedNot establishedKenya Revenue Authoritysource [3]
Sectors researchedMining and minerals, Agriculture and agribusiness, Marine fisheries, Energy, TourismBauxite and aluminium, Iron ore, Agriculture and food industries, Infrastructure, transport and technology, Hydroelectric energyMining, Agriculture and agro-processing, Ports and logistics, EnergyMining and minerals, Agriculture and agro-processing, Manufacturing, Financial services and technology, Ports and logisticsTourism, Fisheries and aquaculture, Agriculture and agro-processing, Digital financial services, Renewable energyGold and mining, Cotton and agriculture, Livestock, EnergyGold and mining, Cotton, Livestock, Solar and energyAgriculture and horticulture, Manufacturing, Technology and financial services, Logistics and ports, Energy
Ports and gatewaysQueen Elizabeth II Quay, FreetownPort of Conakry, KamsarFreeport of MonroviaPort of Tema, Port of TakoradiPort of BanjulNot establishedNot establishedPort of Mombasa, Port of Lamu
Risks stated55555555
Open questions34433555
Last reviewedAugust 2026August 2026August 2026August 2026August 2026August 2026August 2026August 2026
Next reviewFebruary 2027February 2027February 2027February 2027February 2027November 2026November 2026February 2027

Every cell here is a fact with a year and a named source behind it, which means you can lift any of it straight into a board paper and defend it. Where you want the judgement rather than the data, that is the conversation, and our method is published in full.

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