2025 Index of Economic Freedom: Benin stands out among Africa’s most reform-oriented economies
The 2025 edition of the Economic Freedom Index by “The Heritage Fondation”, reported by Agence Ecofin, paints an unflattering picture for the African continent. In the majority of countries, barriers to economic freedom remain strong, driven by persistent corruption, burdensome taxation and markets that are still insufficiently open.
In this context, Benin stands out as a relative exception. The country ranks 12th in the African ranking, a performance that places it ahead of several West African and continental economies often cited as benchmarks, including Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo and Ghana.
This progress is part of the ongoing structural reforms undertaken in recent years. Efforts to modernize the administration, digitize public services, improve the business environment and stabilize the macroeconomy are beginning to produce measurable effects.
Added to this are policies aimed at strengthening legal certainty and fiscal discipline, key factors for attracting investment.
At the top of the African ranking, Mauritius keeps its leading position, followed by the Seychelles and Cape Verde. These countries once again confirm the competitive advantage of small island states in terms of economic governance.
At the other end of the table, Zimbabwe brings up the rear, penalized by persistent monetary instability and a regulatory framework that does little to encourage investment.
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