According to data from NYU professor Aswath Damodaran and analysed by Visual Capitalist, equity risk premiums, the additional returns investors demand to compensate for country-specific risk vary widely, reflecting deep divides in economic stability, governance, and geopolitical conditions.
The divergence is clear. While stable economies cluster around 4–5%, fragile or conflict-affected states can exceed 30%, highlighting how geopolitical instability, weak institutions, and economic distress shape investor sentiment.
Aswath Damodaran’s methodology estimates how risky it is to invest in a country by starting with sovereign credit ratings from agencies like Moody’s, which indicate how likely a country is to repay its debts.
He then converts these ratings into a “default spread,” or the extra return investors demand for taking on that risk. Because stock markets are typically more volatile than government bonds, he further adjusts this risk measure by factoring in how much more the equity market fluctuates compared to bonds.
Together, these steps provide a more realistic estimate of the overall risk investors face in a country’s market. This also produces a more realistic picture of country risk, especially in emerging and frontier markets where volatility is often elevated.
Sudan tops not just Africa but the global ranking. It ties with Belarus, Lebanon and Venezuela at 30.9% reflecting the ongoing political crisis in the affected regions.
Elsewhere, macroeconomic fragility plays a key role. Malawi and Ethiopia face currency pressures and debt vulnerabilities, while Gabon and Guinea have experienced political uncertainty, including coups or contested transitions.
Liberia, still rebuilding from past crises, remains structurally vulnerable.
Global contrast: where risk is lowest
At the other end of the spectrum, advanced economies such as Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, Sweden, and the Netherlands all post equity risk premiums of about 4.2%, making them among the safest investment destinations globally.
The United States sits slightly higher at 4.5%, but remains firmly within the low-risk bracket.
These markets benefit from strong institutions, stable governance, deep capital markets, and predictable policy environments – factors largely absent in higher-risk African economies.
For investors, the gap highlights a familiar reality: while Africa offers high-growth potential, it also demands significantly higher risk premiums, shaping capital flows and investment decisions across the continent.