Mixed fortunes for African nation brands in annual brand valuation

African rankings will improve

“However, South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, Angola, and Tanzania have ranked lower than last year. Nevertheless, as moves to unify African trade are making positive headway, we can expect improvement moving forward in the continent’s nation brands as Africa continues to rise on the global stage.”

David Haigh, global Chairman and CEO of Brand Finance, commented: “Unlike previous economic crashes, recovery is uneven and is pinned on the combination of initial Covid-19 response strategies and a successful vaccination rollout. 

“We are starting to turn a corner, as the world’s most valuable nation brands begin to return to pre-pandemic brand values. But results are varied and it may take years for some to recoup lost brand value, creating even greater disparity between the most and least valuable nation brands.”

US and China lead the pack

Haigh added: “The superpowers from the West and the East unsurprisingly dominate the Brand Finance Nation Brands ranking, with China remaining hot on the heels of long-standing leader, the US. With China’s recovery and economic rise showing no signs of slowing down, as growth hit a record high at the beginning of the year, no doubt the gap will continue to close in the coming years.”

There has been no movement in the top 10 most valuable nation brands this year, with each nation retaining its rank from last year. The United States and China remain in a league of their own, claiming the first and second spot in the ranking, respectively. 

The US has recorded a 5% brand value increase to US$24.8-trillion in a year that has been marked by great political and economic change with President Joe Biden taking the helm. Similarly, China saw a 6% uptick in nation brand value to US$19.9-trillion. Both nations have celebrated economic recovery since the outbreak of the pandemic, contributing to their uplift in brand value. 

Other nations rounding out the top 10 most valuable nation brands are: Japan; Germany; United Kingdom; France; India; Canada; Italy; South Korea.