(Ecofin Agency) - In its 2016 global report on information technologies entitled “innovation in digital economy”, the World Economic Forum assessed countries that integrate ICTs in their socio-economic development. Integration relates to the use of ICTs by the government, companies and populations.

In Africa, Mauritius, though 49th in the world, remains the most advanced. The island is followed by South Africa (65^th worldwide), Seychelles (74^th), Morocco (78^th), Rwanda (80^th), Tunisia (81^st), Cape Verde (85^th), Kenya (86^th), Egypt (96^th), Namibia (99^th) and Botswana (101^st). Last in line come Benin (128^th), Swaziland (129^th), Liberia (130^th), Malawi (132^nd), Guinea (134^th), Madagascar (135^th) Mauritania (136^th), Burundi (138^th), and Chad (139^th).

However, the level of integration of ICTs of Africa cannot compare to that of emerging and developed nations. Indeed, while Singapour and Finland, respectively first and second in WEF’s report, reached 5 on a scale of 7 in terms of ICT’s impact on the economy, African countries float around 2.9 points average. In developed economies, while populations, then companies and government, in that order, are the one to rely on ICTs most, in Africa, it is first the government, then companies followed by populations that use the technologies.

Despite the small contribution of ICT to Africa’s development, the WEF estimates there has been since 2012. States just need to repeat their investments to improve access to ICTs to more people.