By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Gold has long been one of Africa’s most valuable natural resources, driving economic growth, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings across the continent.
As global demand for gold continues to rise in 2025, several African nations have emerged as the continent’s top gold exporters.
These countries are not only leveraging their mineral wealth but also reforming their mining sectors to ensure transparency, sustainability, and increased local benefits.
Here’s a look at the five African countries currently dominating gold exports and how they’re shaping the continent’s mining landscape:
1. Ghana
Ghana remains Africa’s largest gold exporter and one of the top producers globally. The country’s gold export reforms have made significant impacts, especially with the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) in 2025. The initiative introduced centralised licensing and strict oversight to combat illegal mining and gold smuggling.
According to the Ghana Gold Board, the country recorded over five billion dollars in gold exports during the first half of 2025, surpassing the total value for all of 2024. Artisanal and small-scale mining contributed over 66 tonnes, valued at more than six billion dollars, by August 2025. These figures highlight Ghana’s successful combination of regulation and innovation in its mining industry.
2. South Africa
Despite facing numerous challenges, South Africa remains one of the most influential gold exporters in Africa. The country’s long-established mining infrastructure and extensive expertise have kept it competitive even as ore grades decline and production costs rise.
In 2024–2025, South Africa’s gold exports were valued at around 8.17 billion dollars. However, the industry continues to grapple with regulatory pressures, labour unrest, and ageing mines. Yet, South Africa’s rich mining legacy and established export networks continue to sustain its position as a global player in the gold market.
3. Tanzania
Tanzania has experienced an impressive surge in gold exports, thanks to improved governance, rising global gold prices, and expanding artisanal mining activities. As of August 2025, the country’s gold exports stood at 4.32 billion dollars, a sharp increase from 3.19 billion dollars recorded at the same time in 2024.
The Tanzanian government has taken steps to promote transparency, encourage partnerships between local miners and large companies, and attract international investment. This strategy has made Tanzania one of the fastest-growing gold producers in sub-Saharan Africa.
4. Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso continues to strengthen its position as one of West Africa’s key gold exporters. In 2024, the country produced about 60.8 tonnes of gold, up from 56.8 tonnes in 2023. Gold is now the country’s primary export, making up a significant portion of its GDP and foreign exchange earnings.
The government is working to expand refining capacity and combat illegal gold exports, aiming to keep more of the mineral’s value within the local economy. These reforms could help Burkina Faso transform from an exporter of raw gold to a centre for value-added processing in the coming years.
5. Mali
Mali remains one of Africa’s top gold producers and exporters, despite recent political and regulatory uncertainties.
Both industrial and artisanal mining contribute significantly to the nation’s gold output.
However, new restrictions on some artisanal mining permits and foreign operations have created uncertainties in the sector.
Still, Mali’s gold industry continues to thrive, serving as a cornerstone of the country’s economy.
The nation’s resilience highlights how deeply gold is interwoven into Mali’s economic and social fabric.