By Ghazali Ibrahim
Nigeria has the second-longest road network in Africa, with an estimated 195,000 kilometres of roadway coverage, according to 2026 data published by Global Firepower.
South Africa tops the continent with about 750,000km of roadways, placing it 11th globally. Nigeria ranks 28th worldwide.
Ethiopia follows Nigeria in third place in Africa with 180,000km, while Kenya ranks fourth with 161,452km.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is fifth with 152,373km, followed by Tanzania with 145,203km. Mali ranks seventh with 139,107km, while Algeria, Zimbabwe and South Sudan occupy the eighth, ninth and 10th positions with 112,696km, 97,267km and 90,200km respectively.
Top 10 African countries by road network
1. South Africa — 750,000km
2. Nigeria — 195,000km
3. Ethiopia — 180,000km
4. Kenya — 161,452km
5. DR Congo — 152,373km
6. Tanzania — 145,203km
7. Mali — 139,107km
8. Algeria — 112,696km
9. Zimbabwe — 97,267km
10. South Sudan — 90,200km
Globally, the United States has the largest road network at 6.59 million kilometres, followed by India with 6.37 million kilometres and China with about 5.2 million kilometres.
Brazil ranks fourth globally with roughly two million kilometres, while Russia is fifth with 1.28 million kilometres.
Global Firepower said the figures represent total usable or useful roadway coverage and form part of its 2026 logistics ranking.
The organisation noted that road networks are important indicators of infrastructure development because they provide access to industrial areas, terminals and ports.
However, the ranking measures the length of roadways and does not indicate their quality, condition or the proportion that is paved.
