Africa’s Rising Tech Talent: 4.7 Million Developers Reshaping the Continent

The recent analysis by the Boston Consulting Group highlights the rapid growth of software developers in Africa, which has reached 4.7 million and is expanding at a remarkable rate of 21% annually from 2019 to 2024. This surge is attributed to a combination of favorable public policies aimed at developing digital skills, improved access to infrastructure, the emergence of technology hubs in major cities, and an increasing alignment between educational systems and industry needs. While traditional markets like South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria lead in volume, countries such as Tunisia, Kenya, and Morocco are distinguished by their unique blend of growth and scale. Notably, Ethiopia and Angola are also showing strong progress from modest bases, indicating the formation of structured ecosystems rather than mere temporary gains.

A significant factor in accelerating this growth is the participation of women in software development, which presents a powerful lever for enhancing the continent’s trajectory. Tunisia, for example, boasts a 24% female developer rate, the highest in Africa, demonstrating that sustained investment in women’s inclusion can yield measurable results. Other countries like Kenya and Rwanda are also making strides, showcasing the importance of public policies and ecosystem alignment in achieving these outcomes.

Morocco has emerged as one of Africa’s most dynamic tech ecosystems in less than a decade, driven by a deliberate strategy involving substantial public investment, ambitious educational reforms, and openness to international tech companies. The country now ranks among the highest in Africa for both the absolute number of developers and the growth of software development activities, with a notable increase in scientific publications reflecting its research and innovation maturity. The city of Ben Guerir exemplifies this transformation, with a community of developers that has grown fiftyfold, supported by the establishment of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and collaboration with industrial stakeholders.

The BCG report emphasizes that the development of developer communities correlates strongly with national scientific output, underscoring the role of developers as both knowledge producers and application creators. As Hamid Maher, Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG Casablanca and Head of BCG in Africa, states in the report: “Le développement du vivier de développeurs en Afrique constitue l’un des investissements à rendement le plus élevé qu’un pays puisse réaliser. Il renforce la résilience, favorise la diversification économique et libère les moteurs de croissance de demain.” (“The development of the developer pool in Africa constitutes one of the highest-return investments a country can make. It strengthens resilience, promotes economic diversification, and unleashes the growth engines of tomorrow.”) The growth in developer numbers is seen as one of the highest-return investments a country can make, enhancing resilience, promoting economic diversification, and unlocking future growth engines. As communities of developers reshape Africa’s technological narrative, their expansion is fostering new enterprises, increasing economic participation, and strengthening local industries. The potential for further growth is well-documented, and existing models provide a roadmap for replication across the continent.

By Hamid Maher, Ali Ziat, Saad Rguig, and Maryama Hmaidi

SOURCE: BCG