Finance · South Africa
African Emerging Markets Shine in 2025, But Will Growth Last?
Moneyweb · 2026/02/21
Summary
In 2025, African emerging and frontier markets performed very well, marking a break from several years of poor results. Many investors saw strong gains as these markets attracted more attention and investment. This improvement was driven by better economic outlooks, rising commodity prices, and growing interest in African countries' potential for growth. However, experts are cautious about whether this good performance will last. Challenges like political instability, global economic pressures, and infrastructure problems still exist. For South Africans and others invested or interested in these markets, it is important to watch how these risks and opportunities develop over time. The big question remains if 2025 was just a single good year or the start of a longer positive trend for African and other emerging markets.
OnABudget takeaway: For everyday consumers and small investors, this means opportunities to grow savings through emerging market investments, but it's important to be realistic about risks and avoid putting all your money in one place. For small business owners, better markets can mean more business opportunities locally and through trade.