Morocco has been ranked among the top African countries for intellectual and innovation capacity in a 2026 list published by The African Exponent, which places the country second on the continent behind South Africa.
The ranking, published Aug. 15, does not attempt to measure individual intelligence directly. Instead, The African Exponent uses indicators including scientific research, innovation capacity and research infrastructure to identify African countries it considers best positioned to turn human talent into technological and economic output.
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Morocco’s second-place position was attributed to its progress in industrial and technological innovation, including industrial design, patents, high-tech manufacturing and scientific publications.
The publication also pointed to Morocco’s recent industrial performance, noting that the country overtook South Africa in the African Development Bank’s Africa Industrialization Index 2025. The index assessed industrial development across 54 African countries between 2010 and 2024 and identified Morocco as Africa’s highest-ranked industrial economy.
Morocco’s position in international innovation rankings has also improved. The World Intellectual Property Organization’s 2025 Global Innovation Index placed Morocco 57th out of 139 economies, nine places higher than in 2024 and its highest position to date. WIPO said Morocco’s performance was supported by industrial designs, education spending, labor productivity and high-tech manufacturing.
WIPO also ranked Morocco fourth among 37 lower-middle-income economies and eighth among 18 economies in Northern Africa and Western Asia. The organization classified Morocco as an innovation overperformer, meaning its innovation performance is higher than would be expected from its level of economic development.
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The African Exponent placed South Africa first, followed by Morocco, Egypt, Mauritius, Tunisia, Kenya, Algeria, Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria.
The publication’s ranking is based on innovation and research indicators rather than a standardized test of intelligence. it uses scientific output, research infrastructure and innovation capacity as indicators of how countries translate human talent into research, technology and economic value.
