Internet
Nigeria, Egypt in top 10 in global software developer growth rankings for 2023
GitHub, a popular software development platform, has released new data revealing that Nigeria and Egypt are among the fastest-growing countries for software development in 2023.
Africa’s emergence as a tech hotspot is evident, with vibrant startup ecosystems like Silicon Cape, Silicon Savannah, and Silicon Valley (located in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, respectively) gaining international recognition.
Over the past five years, Nigeria has solidified its position as a leader in tech startup funding and development, while Egypt is poised to become Africa’s next major startup hub, boasting impressive deal counts and values.
What’s particularly striking is the pace of growth witnessed in these countries, according to the report.
Nigeria witnessed a remarkable 45.6% increase in developer talent from Q3 2022 to Q3 2023, reaching a total of 872,162 developers – the fastest growth rate in Africa. Disrupt Africa’s separate report underlines Nigeria’s ascent as the leading startup ecosystem on the continent.
Ranked second globally for developer growth, Nigeria follows Bangladesh, which saw a 66.5% surge in developer count, reaching 945,696.
Meanwhile, Egypt, positioned as the second-largest developer market in Africa, experienced a significant 34.1% rise in developer numbers, reaching 729,790. This growth outpaced countries like Argentina, Hong Kong, and Indonesia, positioning Egypt seventh in the global ranking.
However, concerns loom regarding the sustainability of this growth. Some suggest that the surge in GitHub accounts might signify developers resorting to unpaid work amid dwindling venture capital support.
Disrupt Africa’s African Tech-Startups Funding Report 2023 highlights Egypt’s struggle, with a drastic decrease in startup jobs and funding. Conversely, Nigeria’s startup job market saw marginal decline, showcasing resilience amid economic challenges.
Beyond Nigeria and Egypt, other African nations like South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya also witnessed notable growth in their developer communities. South Africa emerged as the third-fastest-growing market on the continent, reinforcing Africa’s status as a burgeoning tech landscape.
Google’s Africa Developer Ecosystem Report 2021 further underscores Africa’s tech boom, with startups driving employment opportunities for local developers.
Despite global tech layoffs in 2023, Africa’s tech sector continues to show resilience and promise, with startups playing a pivotal role in job creation and talent retention.