African Countries With Highest Pension Fund Asset Growth

A recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has shown that global pension fund assets grew by over 10% to $38.5 trillion in 2021.

The report focused specifically on pension fund assets in 68 countries or reporting jurisdictions, consisting of 38 OECD countries and 30 non-OECD countries in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. The report said in parts:

“Overall, pension fund assets amounted to USD 38.5 trillion in a total of 68 reporting jurisdictions at end-2021. Most of these assets were held by pension funds in the OECD area, totalling USD 37.7 trillion. The United States recorded the largest amount of assets in pension funds (USD 22.6 trillion), followed by the United Kingdom (USD 3.6 trillion), Australia (USD 2.3 trillion), the Netherlands (USD 2.0 trillion), Canada (USD 1.7 trillion), Japan (USD 1.5 trillion) and Switzerland (USD 1.2 trillion). These seven countries altogether held 92.4% of pension fund assets in the OECD area.”

According to The Balance, pension funds are investment pools that accumulate wealth for the purpose of paying for workers’ retirement. Typically, pension funds are contributed by both workers and their employers, especially so in African countries where compulsory pension schemes exist.

Pension fund managers invest in different asset classes such as equities, fixed income assets such as bonds, treasury bills and corporate bonds, Collective Investment Schemes (CIS), etc.

Below are the seven African countries with the highest pension fund asset growths, according to the OECD. The list is presented in no particular order of priority.

1. Egypt: Egypt’s pension fund asset grew by 8.0% to $6.2 billion, representing 1.5% of the country’s 2021 GDP.
2. Ghana: Ghana’s pension fund asset grew by 27.2% to $4.7 billion, representing 6.3% of the country’s GDP in 2021.
3. Kenya: The country’s pension fund asset grew by 10.6% to $13.7 billion, resenting 12.9% of the country’s 2021 GDP.
4. Namibia: This Southern African country’s pension fund assets grew by 17.6% to $11.8 billion, representing 103.0% of the country’s 2021 GDP.
5. Nigeria: Nigeria’s pension fund assets grew by 9.1% to $32.6 billion, representing 7.6% of the country’s GDP.
6. Uganda: Uganda’s pension fund assets grew by 15.8% to $5.3 billion, representing 12.4% of the country’s GDP.
7. Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe’s pension fund assets grew by 285.8% to $2 billion, representing 7.6% of GDP.

Still wondering? Nigeria couldn’t make the list. Sorry.