Africa Western and Central: Listed domestic companies, total

Key figures

Since 1994 it is down 9.38% from 224 in 1994 (0.35% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 10 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2022, Africa Western and Central's listed domestic companies, total fell 0.5% on 2021 (from 204 to 203).

Across the 15 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2021), the average change was −2% and a typical year strayed about 8.9% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 19.2% in 1998 and the biggest yearly fall was 19.7% in 2021. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

See how every economy compares in the full ranking.

What this measures

Listed domestic companies, including foreign companies which are exclusively listed, are those which have shares listed on an exchange at the end of the year. Investment funds, unit trusts, and companies whose only business goal is to hold shares of other listed companies, such as holding companies and investment companies, regardless of their legal status, are excluded. A company with several classes of shares is counted once. Only companies admitted to listing on the exchange are included.

Limitations: Data cover measures of size (market capitalization, number of listed domestic companies) and liquidity (value of shares traded as a percentage of gross domestic product, value of shares traded as a percentage of market capitalization). The comparability of such data across countries may be limited by conceptual and statistical weaknesses, such as inaccurate reporting and differences in accounting standards.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 19 values

Listed domestic companies, total in nearby economies

• Bahrain — 39 (2025)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 244 (2025)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 630 (2025)
• Israel — 511 (2024)
• Jordan — 162 (2025)
• Kuwait — 135 (2025)
• Lebanon — 10 (2021)
• Malta — 35 (2025)
• Morocco — 78 (2025)
• Oman — 108 (2025)
• Pakistan — 535 (2025)

More financial sector data for Africa Western and Central

• Broad money (% of GDP) — 33.06% (2025)
• Inflation, GDP deflator (annual % growth) — 2.75% (2025)
• Domestic credit to private sector by banks (% of GDP) — 15.08% (2023)
• Monetary sector credit to private sector (% of GDP) — 15.22% (2023)
• Claims on central government, etc. (% of GDP) — 9.66% (2023)
• Domestic credit to private sector (% of GDP) — 15.22% (2023)
• Inflation, consumer prices (annual % growth) — 1.66% (2025)
• Stocks traded, turnover ratio of domestic shares (%) — 2.62% (2024)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Africa Western and Central's listed domestic companies, total?

203 in 2022, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1994?

It is down 9.38% from 224 in 1994 (0.35% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 285 in 2010 and the lowest 203 in 1997.

Is the latest change in listed domestic companies, total unusual for Africa Western and Central?

In 2022, Africa Western and Central's listed domestic companies, total fell 0.5% on 2021 (from 204 to 203). Across the 15 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2021), the average change was −2% and a typical year strayed about 8.9% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Where does this data come from?

The World Bank's World Development Indicators, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Federation of Exchanges database, World Federation of Exchanges (WFE).

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator CM.MKT.LDOM.NO, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Federation of Exchanges database, World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

Want to ask your own questions of data like this? Try AnalyzeIt: upload a file or ask about public data in plain words, and every figure comes with its working.