Data from the second edition of the African Regional Integration Index (ARII) has detailed the scores of every country on five dimensions of regional integration of Africa as well as the overall score.
It shows that the average regional integration score for Africa is 0.327, indicating that the level of integration is low. The ARII scoring system classifies 0.668 or above as high.
Regional integration of Africa
The five dimensions of regional integration in Africa are – Trade (0.382), Productive (0.201), Macroeconomic, (0.399), Infrastructural (0.220), and Free movement of people (0.441).
With a 0.292 score and 38th place, Nigeria is one of the lowest overall performers on all dimensions of regional integration with the exception of a productive integration score of 0.364 where it ranks second to South Africa.
- AfCFTA shipping requirements and licences for Nigeria
- Requirements, Documents For Export To Other AfCFTA Countries
With a score of 0.625, South Africa is the most regionally integrated country in Africa. This score shows that the continent has extensive potential to boost integration and tap its benefits.
The African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank utilizes the ARII to provide a joint publication and up-to-date data on the status of regional integration in Africa.
The indicators used to group the five dimension of the regional integration of Africa
This helps it measure the rate of integration between neighbours.
- Countries that require a visa from other countries in Africa
- Number of countries that may obtain a visa on arrival
- Free Movement of Persons Protocol (Kigali)
- AfDB Infrastructure Development Index
- Proportion of intra-regional flight connections
- Number of bilateral investment treaties in force
- Regional convertibility of currency
- Regional inflation differential
- Merchandise trade complementarity index
- Share of intra-regional intermediate imports
- Share of intra-regional intermediate exports
- AfCFTA
- Share of intra-regional trade
- Average intra-regional import tariffs
- Share of intra-regional exports over GDP
- Share of intra-regional imports over GDP
The disparity in countries’ performance is significant, particularly on the productive and infrastructure dimensions. Countries fare better on the free movement of people and macroeconomic dimensions.