WHITE PAPER: STATE OF AFRICAN TECH TALENT 2024

The African software development industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by a diverse and talented pool of developers. This white paper presents an in-depth analysis of more than 500 developers across the continent, focusing on income distribution, coding experience, gender representation, technology usage, and future aspirations. The insights gathered provide a clear view of the challenges and opportunities for developers and the broader tech ecosystem in Africa.

9 key takeaways from this white paper:

1. Tech Talent Boom: Africa’s software industry is expanding rapidly, with Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya at the forefront. Most developers are young and in the early stages of their careers, highlighting the continent’s growing talent pool.
2. Programming Preferences: JavaScript and Python are the most commonly used programming languages, but there is a rising interest in Rust, signalling a desire among developers to shift and diversify their tech stacks.
3. Cloud Dominance: AWS is the top choice for cloud platforms, with 43.1% of developers expressing interest in working with it, outpacing both Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure.
4. Web Frameworks: React remains the leading web framework, with 21.4% of developers currently using it, and 17.2% planning to adopt it in the future.
5. Emerging Technologies: There is a strong drive to adopt modern technologies, with 84% of developers seeking to change their tech stacks and 87% looking to explore new database environments.
6. AI as a Game-Changer: Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the industry, seen by developers as the biggest driver of job growth and innovation.
7. Optimism for the Future: More than half of developers are optimistic about Africa’s tech future, particularly those early in their careers, reflecting confidence in continued growth and opportunity.
8. Income Growth: While many developers currently earn under $20k per year, salaries increase significantly with experience, underscoring the potential for income growth as the industry matures.
9. Tools & Learning: Developers are favoring macOS, learning platforms like Udemy, and productivity tools such as Jira and Notion to enhance their skills and work efficiency.

Introduction

With the digital transformation sweeping across the globe, Africa is emerging as a serious player in the global technology sector. The continent is home to a growing community of software developers, tech hubs, and startups creating innovative solutions addressing local and global challenges. This white paper delves into the current state of the African software development industry, focusing on key trends in education, income, technology preferences, and future aspirations.

The population of African developers surveyed reveals a diverse and growing talent pool, with a wide range of experience levels and demographic backgrounds. The majority have between 0-5 years of coding experience, with 36.2% of the respondents having 0-2 years and 30.7% having 3-5 years. The gender breakdown shows that men dominate the field, making up 81.7%, while women represent 18.3%. According to various research studies, the global average for women’s representation in this field typically ranges between 23% and 27% according to various researches. Geographically, the largest share of respondents is from Nigeria (54.8%), followed by Uganda (17.6%) and Kenya (12.7%).

The participants’ ages range broadly, with a significant portion aged between 25-34 years, indicating a relatively young and dynamic workforce. This snapshot reflects the expanding capabilities of the African IT sector and the rapidly growing population, particularly in countries like Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya. It also highlights the continent’s increasing significance in the global tech landscape as Africa’s tech scene continues to rise.

Technical trends

To get a better understanding of technical trends, we’ve asked the developers which technologies they are currently using and which technologies they desire to use in the future.
The data reveals the evolving interests and experiences of African developers regarding programming languages, databases, cloud platforms, and web frameworks. Over the past year, JavaScript (25.4%) and Python (21.7%) have been the most widely used programming languages. However, looking forward, the data suggests a strong desire for change, as 34.5% of developers expressed an interest in using Python in the future, followed by 13.6% of developers wanting to continue with JavaScript. Notably, there’s a growing curiosity around Rust, with 8.7% of the developers aspiring to work with it soon.

When it comes to databases, MySQL dominates, used extensively by 36.4% of developers in the past year. There’s a growing interest in PostgreSQL, with 22.3% of developers eager to explore its capabilities. MongoDB also stands out as a popular option, with 19.4% developers interested in using it in the future, signalling an appetite for more modern and scalable solutions.

In the realm of cloud platforms, Google Cloud and AWS are the frontrunners, with 27.4% and 26% of developers, respectively, widely using these platforms in the past year. Interestingly, the future leans toward AWS, with an overwhelming 43.1% of developers expressing a desire to work with the platform, compared to 22.5% for Google Cloud. Microsoft Azure also remains a strong contender, with 19.6% of developers showing interest in continuing or starting to work with it.

When it comes to Web frameworks, we can see that a wide variety of frameworks are being used. React is current (21.4%) and future (17.2%) favorite among the developers in this dataset, followed by Node.js (13.7%) and Django (12%). Whilst Laravel (10.2%) is still being used a lot, less than half would like to continue using this technology, Next.js seems to be on the rise with 9% of the respondent expressing their desire to use this technology in the future.

A significant theme across all technologies is the pursuit of change. Whether it’s switching programming languages, databases, cloud platforms, or web frameworks, the majority of developers are keen to experiment with new technologies. A clear indicator of this is that 84% of developers are looking to change their main technology stack, while 87% want to explore different database environments. Similarly, 77% of professionals are considering new cloud platforms, and 90% are looking to shift their web framework choices. This not only highlights a dynamic and exploratory mindset among the developers but also shows that developers are not just focused on change for its own sake. They are actively seeking to broaden their horizons and skill sets by adding new technologies to their toolbox, enhancing both their adaptability and versatility based on trends.

Outlook on the future of Tech in Africa

This survey among African software developers reveals an overall positive sentiment regarding the future of tech on the continent. Respondents were asked to rate their agreement with four key statements. The statements were: “I am optimistic about the future of tech in Africa,” “I think the future for me as a software developer is improving,” “The number of developers in Africa is steadily increasing,” and “African tech is producing more innovative solutions.”

Overall, the majority of developers leaned towards agreement, with 54.33% strongly agreeing that they are optimistic about the future of tech in Africa, and 45.13% strongly agreeing that their career prospects as developers are improving. Still, there is a portion (18.70%) who strongly disagree with these optimistic outlooks.

When examining responses by experience level, early-career developers (0-2 years of coding) are most optimistic, indicating strong agreement that both African tech and their futures are bright. Developers with 3–5 years of experience shift toward a more neutral stance. This trend continues among those with 6–11 years of experience, where enthusiasm becomes more tempered. For the most experienced developers (12+ years), sentiment remains neutral, showing cautious optimism. A similar pattern is observed when considering age groups, with older developers displaying more cautious outlook on the future.

Disruptive innovations and AI sentiment

The data provides a clear picture of the future of tech as seen through the eyes of African developers, with a strong emphasis on the transformative role of AI and the groundbreaking potential of emerging technologies.

When asked which industry they believe will have the most tech jobs in the next five years, AI (not surprisingly) stands out as the dominant choice, with 38.64% predicting it will drive the highest job growth. Following AI, FinTech is seen as another booming sector, capturing 26.99% of the vote, while SaaS (Software as a Service) comes in at 17.86%. Other industries like eCommerce and Custom IT solutions rank lower, each accounting for 6.41%.

Developers also identified which technologies they expect to be most disruptive over the next five years. Large Language Models (LLMs) and Blockchain share the top spot, with 30% of respondents each choosing these technologies. Robotics follows at 18.54%, signalling its growing importance, while Virtual Reality (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR) (10.83%) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) (7.92%) are seen as emerging fields with promising potential.

The use of AI in the development process is already widespread, with 75.91% of respondents using AI and another 22.27% planning to integrate it into their workflow soon. AI tools are proving highly beneficial, as 42.62% of developers find AI to be “very helpful” during their development process, and 25.61% find it “helpful.” Only a small minority, 5.94%, report that AI has not been helpful to them.

Productivity is the most sought-after benefit from AI tools, with 63.10% of developers hoping to use AI to increase their efficiency. Others seek to boost their learning (19.43%) or improve efficiency (17.47%), while a smaller group (7.42%) focuses on improving accuracy.

In terms of specific uses, developers are applying AI tools across various parts of their workflow. Debugging (55.5%) and writing code (52.8%) are the most common applications of AI. Developers are also using AI for project planning (40.8%), code documentation (38.5%), and code review (36.3%), with many considering further applications in testing, deployment, and collaboration. Please note that the respondent were able to select multiple uses of AI in their work.

As for the AI tools being used, ChatGPT dominates, with 78.4% developers naming it their go-to tool, followed by GitHub Copilot at 17.1%. Other tools like Gemini and Devin are used less, with only 2.4% and 1.5% users, respectively.

Salaries

The overall salary distribution among African developers in this dataset shows that the majority earn below $20,000 annually, with a significant portion of developers, especially those early in their careers, earning under $5,000 (30.9%). As developers progress in their careers, 11.1% earn between $5,000 and $20,000, while a smaller percentage advance to salaries between $21,000 and $40,000. The highest salary brackets, those earning over $60,000, represent a growing group, with about 2% of developers reaching this level.

Looking at age, younger developers, especially those under 20, mostly earn under $5,000 annually. Income increases as developers move into their late 20s and 30s, with a small but growing number earning over $40,000.

In summary, both age and experience play a notable role in defining the earning potential of developers. Younger and less experienced developers tend to earn less in the early stages of their careers, but as they gain more experience, their earnings tend to rapidly increase. Developers in their 30s and those with 9+ years of coding experience see more opportunities for financial growth. This trend reflects the expanding opportunities and growing financial rewards in Africa’s tech industry.

Workflow, learning, and tooling

The data also sheds light on the tools and platforms African developers rely on for their daily work, communication, collaboration, and learning.

When it comes to operating systems, Windows remains the most widely used platform, with 57% of developers working on it. However, macOS is the operating system of the future, with 48.7% expressing they would like to work on this system in the future. Systems, like Ubuntu, Android, and iOS, play a smaller role in the development environment, with fewer developers relying on these platforms. However, Ubuntu remains a popular choice for future use, with 20.4% of developers indicating it as their preferred primary operating system moving forward.

When it comes to communication tools, Google Meet is the most widely used, with 75.36% of developers relying on it, followed by WhatsApp, Zoom, and Slack, each used by over 50%. Microsoft Teams also sees significant use (46.41%), while Telegram, Discord, and Skype are less commonly used.

When developers were asked about their preferred communication tools, Google Meet remained the top choice, with 54.8% preferring it, followed closely by Slack, which 49.7% of developers would choose if given the option. While WhatsApp and Zoom remain popular, there is a notable shift toward Slack and Microsoft Teams, reflecting a growing preference for more robust, team-oriented communication tools as developers’ needs evolve. Tools like Discord, Telegram, and Google Chat also continue to play a role, though less prominently.

Developers heavily rely on tools like Jira and Trello for collaboration and documentation, with Jira being used by 41.68% of developers and Trello by 32.44%, making them the top choices in these areas. Notion is gaining momentum, reflecting its growing popularity for flexible documentation and project management. Interestingly, the developers’ preferred tools show a similar pattern, with Jira and Trello leading, but a rising preference for Notion highlights a shift towards more modern and intuitive solutions for managing projects and documentation.

When it comes to learning, Udemy is the platform of choice, used by 37.38% of developers. Coursera follows closely at 30.84%, indicating that many developers are investing in expanding their skills through these platforms. Other learning options, such as Pluralsight, Codecademy, and Udacity, are used by smaller segments of the community, highlighting the wide variety of resources available for ongoing professional growth. Interested in learning with Tunga? Visit our training initiative page

As developers are progressing in their careers and shifting toward higher earning potential, their preferences for tools and platforms evolve too. Whether it’s moving from WhatsApp to Slack for communication or adopting Notion for project management, the choices they make reflect a growing emphasis on productivity, collaboration, and continued learning in Africa’s rapidly developing tech landscape.

Looking towards the future

The African software development industry is at an exciting crossroads, characterized by rapid growth, rising talent, and an increasing drive for innovation. This white paper has highlighted the diverse skill sets, aspirations, and technology preferences of African developers, revealing a community that is dynamic and forward-thinking. While the majority of developers are still in the early stages of their careers, their desire for change, adoption of emerging technologies, and focus on learning and productivity indicate that Africa is poised to become a substantial player in the global tech landscape. The strong inclination towards AI, cloud platforms, and modern development tools, coupled with an optimistic outlook for the future of African tech, reflects the region’s growing significance in the tech world.

The findings in this white paper illustrate the immense potential of Africa’s tech sector, driven by a growing, young, and ambitious workforce that will continue to expand due to demographic changes. With a rapidly growing population set to enter the workforce in the coming decades, Africa is poised to cement its place as a global hub for software development and innovation. By fostering collaboration, encouraging continuous learning, and providing access to the latest tools and technologies, stakeholders can ensure that this potential is fully realized. The future of African tech is bright, with continued growth and opportunity on the horizon.