Updated country profiles on social security in Africa

The International Social Security Association (ISSA) is pleased to announce the release of updated country profiles for Africa. The profiles summarize policy data on the parameters, financing, and administration of mandatory statutory programmes in 50 African countries in a new, more structured, format.

The update covers 50 African countries and forms part of the ISSA's global database that covers 191 countries and territories. The profiles provide concise, standardized information on the structure and main parameters of national social security systems, supporting comparison, analysis and knowledge-sharing among social security administrations, policymakers and international organizations.

➔ Visit the country profiles database

Multilingual for the first time

This update marks an important milestone with the first-ever release of multilingual country profiles in the new restructured format. Of the 50 country profiles from Africa, all are available in English, 22 in French and one in Spanish, improving accessibility for a broader range of users.

Country comparisons

Alongside the country-level updates, the ISSA has also updated comparative scheme tables, covering key features of social security systems, including:

• Existence of programmes by branch
• Types of old-age pension schemes
• Pensionable ages
• Contribution rates

Comparisons can be done between countries within the region and beyond, facilitating benchmarking and comparative analysis across countries.

Supporting regional and global reporting

The updated country profiles will feed into the ISSA's flagship report on developments and trends in the region, to be released at the Regional Social Security Forum for Africa, in Kampala, Uganda
1-3 September 2026.

They also constitute an important source of information for the International Labour Organization's World Social Protection Report. The most recent report covered the period 2024-2026, with the next edition scheduled for publication in 2027.

Through regular updates and expanded multilingual access, the ISSA Country Profiles continue to strengthen the availability of reliable, comparable and up-to-date information on social security systems worldwide.