The 100 largest companies in Africa (2026 list)

This selection of large companies in Africa shows a strong presence of financial services and retail groups. Standard Bank Group, with over 70,000 employees, is a financial services provider across sub-Saharan Africa. The Shoprite Group of Companies is a large-scale food retailer, while MTN is a pan-African mobile operator. Sonatrach, an Algerian government-owned company, exploits hydrocarbon resources. Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd is a major power utility in South Africa, and Absa Group is another significant financial services firm. These companies generally operate across multiple African countries, indicating a regional rather than purely national focus.

A notable pattern is the concentration of headquarters in South Africa, particularly in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Companies like Standard Bank Group, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, MTN, and Absa Group are all based in Johannesburg, while The Shoprite Group of Companies, Woolworths, and TFG have their headquarters in Cape Town. This suggests South Africa serves as a key corporate hub for large-scale operations across the continent, with other significant presences in Algeria (Sonatrach), Ghana (Ghana Education Service), and Egypt (National Bank of Egypt).

#	Company	Industry	Headquarters	Employees	Founded
1	Standard Bank Group standardbank.com Financial services provider focused on inclusive, sustainable economic development and growth across sub-Saharan Africa with ethical business practices.	Financial Services	🇿🇦 Johannesburg	70,728	1862
2	The Shoprite Group of Companies shopriteholdings.co.za Large scale food retailing across Africa providing affordable goods, financial services, and pharmaceuticals through innovative technology, data science, and sustainable community development initiatives.	Retail	🇿🇦 Cape Town	47,851	n/a
3	Sonatrach sonatrach.com This Algerian government-owned company exploits hydrocarbon resources, covering all aspects of the oil and gas industry chain: upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.	Oil and Gas	🇩🇿 Hydra	47,510	1963
4	Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd eskom.co.za A leading power utility in South Africa, with a significant presence in electricity generation, transportation, and distribution on the African continent	Utilities	🇿🇦 Johannesburg	42,862	1923
5	MTN mtn.com A leading pan-African mobile operator focused on bridging the digital divide and advancing financial inclusion through technology and connectivity solutions	Telecommunications	🇿🇦 Johannesburg	42,718	n/a
6	Absa Group absa.africa African financial services company focused on growth, with presence in multiple countries and insurance operations across the continent	Financial Services	🇿🇦 Johannesburg	42,684	2018
7	Woolworths woolworths.co.za Offering a unique blend of quality food, fashion, beauty, and homeware with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and ethical practices	Retail	🇿🇦 Cape Town	37,741	1931
8	Pick n Pay pnp.co.za Operating diverse retail formats across Africa providing affordable groceries, clothing, and general merchandise while creating economic opportunities and social impact through various store channels.	Retail	🇿🇦 Kenilworth	34,254	1967
9	Ghana Education Service ges.gov.gh The Ghana Education Service (GES) is a public service entity in Ghana established to oversee education in the country	Government Administration	🇬🇭 Accra	33,618	1974
10	FNB South Africa fnb.co.za This company values 'help' and practices 'better business; better world' ethos, aiming to drive positive change in people's lives and communities	Banking	🇿🇦 Johannesburg	32,630	n/a
11	S.A.S.sasol.com Produces liquid fuels, chemicals, and electricity from coal. Transforms coal into valuable energy products for various industries.	Chemical Manufacturing	🇿🇦 Sandton	31,000	1950
12	TFG (The Foschini Group)tfglimited.co.za Operates thirty-five speciality retail brands across twenty-three countries, offering fashion, jewellery, homeware, and electronics through over four thousand outlets and a lifestyle e-commerce platform.	Retail	🇿🇦 Cape Town	29,353	n/a
13	National Bank of Egypt (NBE)nbe.com.eg Leading commercial bank in Egypt with extensive branch network, international presence, supporting national economy, offering diverse financial services and advanced training.	Banking	🇪🇬 Boulak	29,310	1898
14	Transnet SOC Ltd transnet.net Management of ports, rail, and pipelines to support South Africa's economic growth through infrastructure modernization and strategic partnerships.	Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage	🇿🇦 Johannesburg	27,696	1850
15	عمل حر 3amalhor.com A freelance platform connecting project owners with freelancers for project completion or modification, offering opportunities for freelancers to find work in various fields	Staffing and Recruiting	🇲🇦 Rabat	25,627	2018
16	SPAR South Africa spar.co.za Supplying goods and services to over two thousand stores through distribution centres focusing on grocery, building materials, and pharmaceutical products for communities.	Retail	🇿🇦 Pinetown	24,203	1963
17	Access Bank Plc accessbankplc.com Full-service commercial bank with extensive branch network across Nigeria, Sub Saharan Africa, and UK, offering diverse financial and transaction services.	Banking	🇳🇬 Victoria Island	23,645	1989
18	Banque Misr banquemisr.com Provides extensive banking services with nationwide branches, supports diverse sectors, and maintains international presence for economic development.	Banking	🇪🇬 Cairo	22,887	1920
19	City of Cape Town capetown.gov.za Municipality in Cape Town offering a diverse range of services to 4 million residents, with a focus on community, development, and growth	Government Administration	🇿🇦 Cape Town	22,864	n/a
20	Ghana Health Service ghs.gov.gh The company is the Ghana Health Service, an autonomous agency responsible for implementing national health policies and providing comprehensive healthcare at various levels	Hospitals and Health Care	🇬🇭 Accra Ghana	22,727	1996
21	Capitec capitecbank.co.za A leading digital bank in South Africa that offers simple, transparent banking services to over 20 million retail customers, prioritizing innovation and exceptional service	Banking	🇿🇦 Stellenbosch	22,433	2001
22	شغل أون لاين shoghlonline.com An Arabic platform specializing in remote freelance work opportunities, connecting individuals seeking online jobs with businesses needing remote tasks completed efficiently	IT Services and IT Consulting	🇪🇬 Cairo	21,615	2016
23	Mr Price Group mrpricegroup.com Omni-channel value retailer specializing in apparel, homeware, and sportswear across South Africa and international markets through physical stores and a dedicated online platform.	Retail	🇿🇦 Durban	21,460	1985
24	Nedbank nedbank.co.za A financial institution focused on being money experts who make a positive impact on the world through their actions	Financial Services	🇿🇦 Sandton	21,088	n/a
25	Sanlam sanlamonline.co.za Financial services company focused on empowering individuals to achieve financial confidence through planning and personalized support during business hours.	Financial Services	🇿🇦	20,239	1918
26	PEP pepstores.com Africa's largest retailer with 2600+ stores offering clothing, footwear, homeware, FMCG, cellular products, services such as loans, and various financial transactions	Retail	🇿🇦 Parow Industria	19,911	1965
27	CASA casawealth.org Leading association offering expertise to empower business owners in managing property portfolios and structures to access exclusive investment consortiums	Information Services	🇿🇦 Bedfordview	19,662	2009
28	Telecom Egypt te.eg Extensive telecom infrastructure supporting fixed and mobile services, wholesale capacities, and integrated consumer bundles across domestic and international markets.	Telecommunications	🇪🇬 Smart Village	19,061	1854
29	INTELCIA intelcia.com Global outsourcing company providing tailored services in CX, business processes, IT and consulting solutions across multiple continents with 35,000+ employees	Outsourcing and Offshoring Consulting	🇲🇦 Casablanca	18,927	2000
30	Old Mutual South Africa oldmutual.co.za A pan-African financial services group offering solutions to retail and corporate customers, focused on creating positive futures for individuals, communities, and society	Financial Services	🇿🇦 Sandton	18,394	1845
31	UBA Group ubagroup.com Leading financial institution in Africa, providing banking services to over 35 million customers through 1,000 branches across 20 countries Specializing in cross border payments, trade finance, and investment banking	Banking	🇳🇬 Lagos Island	17,712	1949
32	Cairo University cu.edu.eg An educational institution in Giza, Egypt, focuses on preparing students for the modern workplace through interactive learning and technology	Higher Education	🇪🇬 Giza	17,695	1908
33	Orascom Construction PLC orascom.com A global engineering and construction contractor specializing in infrastructure, industrial, and commercial projects in the Middle East, Africa, and the United States	Construction	🇪🇬 Cairo	17,558	1950
34	Safaricom PLC safaricom.co.ke Leading Kenyan mobile network provider offering telephony, broadband, financial services, and community support with extensive coverage and innovative mobile payment system.	Telecommunications	🇰🇪 Nairobi	17,200	1997
35	ELSEWEDY ELECTRIC elsewedyelectric.com Provider of electrical products, engineering, digital solutions, and infrastructure investments with global manufacturing and extensive international market presence.	Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing	🇪🇬 New Cairo	17,162	1938
36	Massmart massmart.co.za Operates over 300 stores across 8 sub-Saharan countries, leading market shares in general merchandise, liquor, home improvement, and wholesale food sectors.	Retail	🇿🇦 Sandton	16,817	n/a
37	Vodacom vodacom.co.za The company leverages technology and the power of humanity to achieve common goals, striving to go further together	Telecommunications	🇿🇦 Midrand	16,047	1994
38	Telkom telkom.co.za South African telecommunications company offering affordable network services, enabling everyday ambitions through reliable connectivity and innovative communication solutions.	Telecommunications	🇿🇦 Centurion	16,006	1991
39	CIB Egypt cibeg.com Established in 1975, a leading private sector bank in Egypt offering financial products to individuals, institutions, and corporations with a strong brand presence	Banking	🇪🇬 Giza	15,922	1975
40	Airtel Africa airtel.africa A telecom company operating in 14 African countries, offering mobile voice, data, and mobile money services to deliver a seamless customer experience	Telecommunications	🇰🇪 Nairobi	15,807	2010
41	First Bank of Nigeria Ltd.firstbanknigeria.com Premier commercial bank offering a wide range of retail and corporate financial services across multiple locations to support personal, family, and business needs	Financial Services	🇳🇬 Lagos Island	15,706	1894
42	Discovery Limited discovery.co.za Leading global company innovating in health, life, and short-term insurance, promoting wellness and shared value through Vitality program.	Financial Services	🇿🇦 Johannesburg	14,735	1992
43	Ministry of Health & Population - Egypt mohp.gov.eg The Ministry of Health and Population aims to improve healthcare services for citizens through preventive, treatment, and environmental health measures	Government Administration	🇪🇬 Cairo	14,688	1935
44	Mediclinic mediclinic.co.za Private hospital group in South Africa and Namibia providing acute care, specialist services, and evidence-based care through a network of hospitals and clinics	Hospitals and Health Care	🇿🇦 Stellenbosch	14,068	1983
45	AB InBev Africa ab-inbev.com Producing and distributing a wide range of popular local and global beer brands across 12 African countries, fostering community and prosperity.	Food and Beverage Services	🇿🇦 Bryanston	13,599	n/a
46	University of Johannesburg uj.ac.za Offers vocational and academic programs, advancing freedom, democracy, equality, and human dignity through scholarship, teaching, research, innovation, and intellectual capital.	Higher Education	🇿🇦 Johannesburg	13,544	2005
47	Clicks Group clicksgroup.co.za Leading healthcare, beauty, and wellness retailer in South Africa with a network of over 850 stores and 670 pharmacies, committed to increasing access to affordable healthcare	Retail	🇿🇦 Cape Town	13,474	1968
48	OCP Group ocpgroup.ma A leading Moroccan company providing phosphate-based fertilizers for soil health, promoting sustainable agriculture, and supporting food security and Africa's development	Mining	🇲🇦 Casablanca	13,395	1920
49	ethio telecom ethiotelecom.et A pioneering telecom company in Africa with over 128 years of experience, leading Ethiopia towards a bright future while prioritizing customer feedback and interaction	Telecommunications	🇪🇹 Addis Ababa	13,267	1894
50	MultiChoice Group multichoice.com Provides entertainment platforms and content security services, delivering African storytelling to over 19 million people across 50 countries.	Broadcast Media Production and Distribution	🇿🇦 Randburg	13,144	1995
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51	Old Mutual oldmutual.com Pan-African financial services company focused on meeting Africa's needs by supporting education, housing, small businesses, and infrastructure development.	Financial Services	🇿🇦 Johannesburg	13,100	n/a
52	Jumia Group group.jumia.com Leading African e-commerce platform connecting consumers and sellers, providing logistics and payment solutions, empowering SMEs and job creation.	Technology, Information and Internet	🇳🇬 Ikeja	12,642	2012
53	Hassan Allam Holding hassanallam.com A leading group in engineering, construction, investment, and development, operating in diverse sectors with a solid reputation and a large dynamic business	Construction	🇪🇬 Cairo	12,419	1936
54	Boxer Superstores boxerinvestor.co.za Leading Southern African discount supermarket chain providing groceries, liquor, and building materials through integrated retail operations, distribution centres, and dedicated meat processing facilities.	Retail	🇿🇦 Westville	12,365	1977
55	eThekwini Municipality durban.gov.za Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal, home to Durban, offering excellent working conditions, competitive salaries, and development opportunities to make Durban a top city in Africa	Government Administration	🇿🇦 Durban	12,266	2000
56	University of Pretoria up.ac.za Multi-faculty university offering diverse postgraduate programs, producing top graduates, focusing on research, equity, and African development.	Higher Education	🇿🇦 Pretoria	12,260	1908
57	Ethiopian Airlines ethiopianairlines.com Operating extensive passenger and cargo flights across five continents, focusing on comfort, sustainability, and multi-hub African connectivity.	Airlines and Aviation	🇪🇹 Addis Ababa	12,191	1946
58	Dimension Data dimensiondata.com Leading African technology provider offering systems integration, managed services, cloud solutions, business applications, customer experience, and intelligent security across Middle East and Africa.	IT Services and IT Consulting	🇿🇦 Bryanston	12,075	n/a
59	Zenith Bank Plc zenithbank.com Global financial services provider with extensive branch network, innovative e-banking solutions, and strong presence in multiple countries.	Banking	🇳🇬 Lagos	12,064	1990
60	University of Cape Town uct.ac.za Leading African university focused on research, academic excellence, social justice, producing globally recognized graduates, and promoting diversity and transformation.	Higher Education	🇿🇦 Cape Town	11,751	1829
61	Standard Bank South Africa standardbank.co.za Creating supportive environments to empower employees, delivering excellent client service, and contributing to sustainable growth across Africa.	Financial Services	🇿🇦	11,730	1862
62	University of South Africa/Universiteit van Suid-Afrika unisa.ac.za A comprehensive institution offering open learning and distance education, producing graduates who succeed with diligence, determination, and commitment, making contributions to society	Higher Education	🇿🇦 Pretoria	11,711	1873
63	South African Revenue Service (SARS)sars.gov.za Provides comprehensive tax and revenue collection services, offers protection against illicit trade, promotes trade facilitation, and advises on financial matters	Government Administration	🇿🇦 Pretoria	11,707	1997
64	Lidl Italia lavoro.lidl.it A leading retailer operating in 31 countries with over 12,200 stores and 376,000 employees, offering quality products and a wide assortment	Retail	🇩🇿 Arcole (VR)	11,660	1992
65	e& Egypt eand.com.eg An Egyptian digital telco enhancing connectivity and digital experiences, empowering customers with a wide range of services and pioneering future-forward spaces	Telecommunications	🇪🇬 Cairo	11,619	n/a
66	sonelgaz sonelgaz.dz An Algerian operator providing electricity and gas energy supply services, with a historical presence in the sector	Government Administration	🇩🇿 Alger	11,567	1969
67	Dangote Industries Limited linkbio.co Diversified business conglomerate in Nigeria offering essential products like cement, sugar, flour, pasta, noodles, packaging materials, and salt refining	Consumer Goods	🇳🇬 Lagos	11,407	1978
68	Ackermans ackermans.co.za Leading value fashion retailer offering affordable clothing for families, homeware, cellular products, and financial services through hundreds of stores across five different countries.	Retail	🇿🇦 Kuils River	11,395	1916
69	Coca-Cola Beverages Africa ccbagroup.com Largest African Coca-Cola bottler with 14,000 employees, serving 800,000 customers across 14 countries with local and international brands.	Food and Beverage Services	🇿🇦	11,379	2016
70	Transnet Freight Rail transnetfreightrail-tfr.net A leading heavy haul freight rail operator with extensive infrastructure in South Africa and connections to other networks in the sub-Saharan region	Truck Transportation	🇿🇦 Johannesburg	11,184	n/a
71	Department of Basic Education education.gov.za Provides education services for students from early childhood development to adult literacy programs, aiming to support South Africa's school education system	Government Administration	🇿🇦 Tshwane	11,111	2009
72	Algérie Telecom algerietelecom.dz Leading telecommunications company in Algeria, constantly adapting to technological advancements and market changes to maintain a strong position through diverse, innovative services and solutions	Telecommunications	🇩🇿 Mohammadia	11,031	2003
73	Dis-Chem dischem.co.za Leading pharmacy chain offering a wide range of health, beauty, and wellness products, with expert advice, loyalty benefits, and a strong commitment to social responsibility	Retail Health and Personal Care Products	🇿🇦 Johannesburg	10,500	1978
74	University of KwaZulu-Natal ukzn.ac.za University offering diverse undergraduate and postgraduate programs across multiple campuses, emphasizing innovative teaching, research, and professional degrees.	Higher Education	🇿🇦 Durban	10,139	n/a
75	Guaranty Trust gtbank.com Leading African banking franchise serving millions, offering innovative financial solutions, promoting accessibility, affordability, and community upliftment across multiple countries.	Financial Services	🇳🇬 Lagos	10,133	n/a
76	Nem mais uma An association dedicated to combating all forms of violence, particularly against women in Angola, by providing support and creating a network of collaboration	Civic and Social Organizations	🇦🇴 Luanda	10,087	2021
77	Equity Bank Limited equitygroupholdings.com Financial services holding company providing banking, insurance, and fintech solutions across East Africa while funding social impact programs in education, health, and agriculture.	Financial Services	🇰🇪 Nairobi	10,055	1984
78	GOLD FIELDS goldfields.com gold mining company with operations in multiple countries, focused on creating value and fostering an inclusive, connected workforce	Mining	🇿🇦 Sandton	9,997	1887
79	WNS Global Services SA Leader in business transformation with global BPM services, recognized across industries for operational excellence, leveraging state-of-the-art facilities and talent	Outsourcing and Offshoring Consulting	🇿🇦 Cape Town	9,852	2003
80	Attijariwafa bank attijariwafabank.com Comprehensive banking services across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, serving millions of clients with diverse financial solutions.	Banking	🇲🇦 Casablanca	9,731	n/a
81	Momentum Group Limited d36xr1heovsi2m.cloudfront.net Life insurance and financial services group offering retail and specialist brands focused on client empowerment, accountability, and community care.	Financial Services	🇿🇦 Centurion	9,445	n/a
82	University of the Free State ufs.ac.za Established in 1904, this institution of higher education in South Africa offers a wide range of academic programs to over 34,000 students	Higher Education	🇿🇦 Bloemfontein	9,368	1904
83	PETROJET petrojet.com.eg A leading construction contractor in Egypt, PETROJET offers EPC services in oil, gas, petrochemical, and industrial sectors in the MEA region	Construction	🇪🇬 Cairo	9,314	1975
84	MARJANE GROUP marjane.ma Operates retail stores including supermarkets and electronics, alongside managing and developing commercial real estate like malls and activity parks.	Retail	🇲🇦 Casablanca	9,303	n/a
85	Zagazig University zu.edu.eg Zagazig University is an Egyptian educational institution offering a wide range of academic programs across various disciplines to contribute to the country's development and progress	Higher Education	🇪🇬 Az Zagazig	9,179	1974
86	OFPPT ofppt.ma Educates qualified human resources for economic operators, upskills employees, and boosts youth employability through diplomas or qualifications while also aiding in business creation.	Government Administration	🇲🇦 Casablanca	8,894	1974
87	CCI Global cciglobal.com A leading BPO company in Africa, offering exceptional services across multiple industries with a global reach and a commitment to service excellence and advanced technologies	Telecommunications	🇿🇦 Durban	8,840	2006
88	Xceed xceedcc.com A leading multilingual Business Process Outsourcing Service provider in EMEA region, offering a wide range of services across various sectors with numerous awards and certifications	Outsourcing and Offshoring Consulting	🇪🇬 Cairo	8,702	2001
89	Addis Ababa University aau.edu.et Leading university in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, managed by the Office of External Relations, Partnerships, and Communications Official page providing updates	Research Services	🇪🇹 Addis Ababa	8,656	n/a
90	Tiger Brands tigerbrands.com Manufacture, market, and distribute everyday branded food, beverages, home, and personal care products across South Africa and Africa.	Manufacturing	🇿🇦 Sandton	8,640	1920
91	Engen engen.co.za African energy group marketing petroleum, lubricants, and convenience services through service stations across sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands	Oil and Gas	🇿🇦 Cape Town	8,593	1993
92	Kenya Airways kenya-airways.com Leading African airline operating modern fleet, connecting Africa to global destinations, offering passenger and cargo services with renowned onboard experience.	Airlines and Aviation	🇰🇪	8,587	1977
93	City of Johannesburg joburg.org.za Management of Johannesburg's local governance, providing municipal services, addressing housing and infrastructure challenges across diverse city areas.	Government Administration	🇿🇦 Johannesburg	8,564	1900
94	EGYPTAIR egyptair.com A pioneering airline founded in 1932, offering comfortable travel with a fleet of 71 aircraft to 79 destinations worldwide Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt	Airlines and Aviation	🇪🇬 Cairo	8,544	1932
95	Liberty Group South Africa liberty.co.za Financial services company offering asset management, investment, and insurance solutions, empowering clients to achieve financial freedom through knowledge sharing and expert advice	Insurance	🇿🇦 Braamfontein	8,496	1956
96	The Arab Contractors arabcont.com A leading construction company in the Middle East and Africa with 60,000 employees operating in over 29 countries, in collaboration with customers and partners	Construction	🇪🇬 Cairo	8,373	1955
97	University of Ghana ug.edu.gh The company focuses on developing human resources and capabilities through quality education, research, and knowledge dissemination to address national and global challenges	Higher Education	🇬🇭 Accra	8,373	1948
98	Stanbic Bank standardbank.com Banking and financial services across Africa and emerging markets with focus on personal, business, corporate, investment, and wealth sectors.	Banking	🇿🇦	8,289	1862
99	MEN This company specializes in selling personal protective equipment, fire safety equipment, office supplies, promotional items, and provides inter-city transportation services	Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage	🇨🇲 Douala - Bonamoussadi	8,248	2019
100	Home Group homegroup.org.uk providing high quality housing and integrated health and social care services to over 125,000 customers across UK	Non-profit Organizations	🇿🇦	8,229	1935

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Every company on this list has a Tamtam company profile. The industry is the one the company gives on LinkedIn; categories such as SaaS or fintech are classified by Tamtam's AI from the company's website and LinkedIn page; and the headquarters city must match the company's own address. Companies are ranked by the number of employees on LinkedIn, and the list is refreshed every night. Classifications can be wrong, so treat the list as a starting point rather than an official ranking. Last updated Nov 12, 2026.

The 100 largest companies in Africa

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