Africa’s Data Quality Problem


 
African GDP and Population data are both of very poor quality. Governance is also rated as being very poor, with many autocratic rulers interfering with economic data quality. Only 11% of African countries are rated as having A or B grade GDP data. Only 4% applies for Population data. 13% are rated as having A or B grade Governance. And five of the top ten largest (by GDP) sub-Saharan countries are rated as having D or E grade data. In these circumstances World Economics believes pan-African GDP or Population size, or measures such as GDP per Capita or Debt per Capita that dependent on either GDP or Population data, should be treated with circumspection.

GDP Data Quality Ratings
Grade: A = as good as it gets -> E: extremely poor quality
Africa’s Data Quality Problem




In comparison 90% of European countries produce good quality GDP data while Asia and the Americas report 34% and 32% respectively.

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