This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
Published on June 6, 2020, a report by Startup Blink revealed that African cities and countries have fallen in the 2020 global startup ecosystems' list.
Regional giants like Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, which have long been considered preferred startup destinations, have seen their global rankings decline significantly. Kenya now ranks 62nd, down from 52nd last year, while Nigeria ranks 68th, down from 56th.
Other countries in the region have also seen a decline in their rankings. Egypt fell from 60th to 81st, Rwanda from 61st to 65th, and South Africa from 51st to 52nd.
However, not all African countries have seen a decline in their rankings. Somalia made its debut on the world's top 100 countries for startups, ranking 95th.
Nairobi remains the top startup city in Africa, beating Lagos and Capetown. The city's ideal regulatory environment and wealth of startups have been recognized, despite receiving minimal global funding and investment.
Kenya's innovative response to COVID-19 has also been recognized, with the country ranking 23rd globally, ahead of Japan and Russia.
