The Algerian newspaper “Echourouk” reported that this upgrade was based on the national statistical review conducted on GDP accounts, which included a comprehensive update of the adopted methodologies. According to the report, Algeria is one of only 10 African countries that have entered the high-income economies club. The World Bank attributed this change in classification to a “comprehensive review of national accounts,” where new sectors such as research and development were included as investments, along with improving the methodology for measuring production in the public sector. It also confirmed that this classification reflects progress in Algeria’s national evaluation standards and their alignment with international standards.
The World Bank revealed in its latest report on national income classification for 2025 the 10 African countries with high-income economies, with Algeria being included in the list for the first time, while Seychelles maintained its position as the first African economy in this category. In addition to Seychelles and Algeria, the list includes: The classification is based on the Atlas methodology adopted by the World Bank to evaluate global economic tiers, which is used as a reference for guiding development policies and international financial support.
Seychelles remains the most prominent African country in this list, with its economy primarily relying on the tourism and financial services sectors, alongside its institutional stability and high per capita GDP. However, the report noted that the island has recently announced converting parts of its beaches into nature reserves to pay off debts. Most of these countries’ economies rely on natural resources such as oil and minerals, while others like Mauritius and South Africa are characterized by active service and financial sectors.
The report warned that high national income does not necessarily reflect a comprehensive improvement in living standards, as many of these countries face chronic challenges such as high unemployment, weak basic services, and social inequality. For example, Equatorial Guinea still suffers from high poverty rates despite being classified among high-income countries. Globally, the number of high-income countries reached 93 in 2025, while 55 countries were in the upper middle-income bracket, 50 in the lower bracket, and the number of low-income countries did not exceed 25.
