The British weekly The Observer has just published the latest edition of its global index dedicated to artificial intelligence: the Global AI Index (GAII).
This edition covers 93 countries, those for which data is available, and ranks them according to three main criteria: investment, innovation, and AI implementation.
To assess these countries, the GAII relies on a wide range of indicators: 108 in this 2025 version, drawn from 23 varied sources, including government reports, public databases of international organizations, think tanks, private companies, etc.
These indicators allow for the measurement of concrete realities: computing capacity, (electronic, network) infrastructure, number of specialized AI start-ups, involvement in research, patents filed, AI-trained human capital, and more broadly, a country’s ability to transform AI into a real engine of development.
Out of the 93 countries covered by the index, Tunisia ranks 85th globally, falling 14 places compared to the 2024 edition, where it held the 71st position. Among the 16 African countries present in the ranking, it is 11th, with a score of only 7 out of 100.
Detailing the performance by indicator reveals a differentiated profile. The country achieves its best scores in certain areas. For the Scale indicator (90/100), which is the ability to deploy AI on a large scale thanks to a growing network of start-ups and the progressive integration of AI solutions in various economic sectors.
Government strategy (88/100), while Intensity (82/100) measures the effective adoption of AI in businesses and the public sector.
Commercial ecosystem (76/100) and Infrastructure (78/100) respectively reflect the vitality of the economic ecosystem and the quality of necessary infrastructure, such as electrical capacity, connectivity, and access to computing tools. Development (75/100) reflects the development of local skills, training programs, and support for national initiatives.
On the other hand, Operating environment (67/100) and Talent (68/100) indicate that regulations, the institutional framework, and the availability of qualified specialists still need strengthening. Finally, the Research indicator (44/100), the country’s lowest, highlights a deficit in scientific production, fundamental research, and patents.
In Africa, the highest-ranked country is Egypt, which reaches 47th place globally, followed by South Africa (54th), Ghana (61st), Algeria (65th), Morocco (68th), Nigeria (69th), Mauritius (70th), Kenya (74th), and Senegal (75th). Côte d’Ivoire, ranking 84th globally, closes the African Top 10.
Overall, the studied African countries show very low scores. No country present in the list manages to exceed 15 out of 100.
Globally, the Top 5 is dominated by the United States, which achieves a perfect score of 100/100, followed by China, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and South Korea.
These countries stand out due to their massive investments, advanced infrastructure, and highly developed AI ecosystems, allowing them to maintain a clear lead over the rest of the world.
