Bloomberg Economics published its annual ranking of Africa's most attractive investment destinations in early October 2026. Mauritius came first for the first time, with a score of 0.6 on the risk index, ahead of South Africa (0.5) and Egypt (0.3). A powerful signal for global investment funds seeking a gateway into the African continent.
A ranking based on five criteria
The Bloomberg Economics study evaluates ten African markets across five sub-indices: economic strength, fiscal strength, external vulnerability, governance, and infrastructure. Mauritius, boosted by its institutional stability and established international financial sector, edged out South Africa, whose growth outlook has moderately weakened according to the agency.
Botswana, despite having one of the panel's strongest governance scores (1.5), dropped two places due to a downward revision to its economic outlook. Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, and Ghana share third place with a score of 0.3. Rwanda and Tanzania close the ranking with a score of 0.0.
Nigeria's biggest climb, despite structural weaknesses
The most notable mover is Nigeria, which gained four places to reach eighth. Bloomberg nonetheless highlights its persistent weaknesses: governance (-1.2) and infrastructure (-0.5). UNCTAD also noted that Egypt attracted around $15 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025, confirming its growing attractiveness despite a mid-range risk score.
The Bloomberg ranking confirms a trend already observed in Rand Merchant Bank and GIBS's «Where to Invest in Africa» report (October 2025), where Seychelles came first and Mauritius second, ahead of Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco.
Why it matters
Mauritius's top Bloomberg ranking sends a decisive signal to global fund managers who use such indices as a first geographic allocation filter. It reinforces the island's positioning as a reference financial hub for accessing African markets — a role Mauritius is consolidating through its 40 tax treaties and its place in capital routes into sub-Saharan Africa. With Nairobi and Casablanca rising in prominence, this Bloomberg leadership positions Mauritius as the go-to partner for institutional investors balancing security and yield.
Source: Bloomberg Economics, October 2026 (via La Nouvelle Tribune / lanouvelletribune.info). Additional data: RMB/GIBS, UNCTAD.