- Global connectedness stood at 25 per cent in 2025, matching the record high first reached in 2022
- Namibia ranks among the top three countries globally for long‑term increases in connectedness since 2001; Mozambique, Nigeria and Zambia record strong gains
- The DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026 draws on more than 9 million data points worldwide
Globalisation remains at a historically high level – despite escalating geopolitical tensions, rising US tariffs, and unprecedented uncertainty about future trade policies. This is one of the key findings of the DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026 (https://Group.DHL.com released today by DHL and New York University’s Stern School of Business.
Based on more than 9 million data points tracking international flows of trade, capital, information, and people, the report offers the most comprehensive view of globalisation available.
Sub‑Saharan Africa: Connectedness gains point to rising relevance in global trade
Against this global backdrop, the report presents a nuanced picture of Sub‑Saharan Africa. While levels of connectedness differ significantly across the region, several economies are strengthening their integration into global flows, underscoring steady progress over time, and highlighting scope for further gains in others.
Namibia ranks among the countries with the largest increases in connectedness since 2001, with Mozambique also featuring among the strongest long‑run improvers. More recently, Nigeria and Zambia are listed among the countries with the largest connectedness gains since 2022, reflecting growing momentum in trade, investment and people flows.
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Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub‑Saharan Africa, commented: “As supply chains across the globe continue to develop and trade routes expand into new territories, connectedness is emerging as a key differentiator for businesses and nations alike. The countries in our region that are strengthening their global links are becoming more visible in international trade networks. While this is an encouraging trend in terms of the scope of opportunities available, the key is to take advantage of these opportunities to drive consistent and reliable trade flows. This report further underscores how Africa is increasingly shifting from a narrative of aid to one of trade, a transformation powered by stronger integration, rising competitiveness, and improved access to global markets. To fully unlock this potential, the region needs strong regional connectivity, predictable cross-border processes, and partners that understand both local conditions and global trade requirements. At DHL Express, we are committed to being a catalyst for growth in Africa, ensuring that not only is Africa a part of global trade but a key driver within it.”
Beyond trade and investment, the report finds that people flows have recovered fully from the COVID-19 collapse. In tourism, UN data show that Africa recorded a 17 per cent increase in international arrivals in 2025 compared with 2019, the second‑largest increase among world regions, behind the Middle East.
In the report’s 2024 country ranking of 180 economies, South Africa ranks 53rd overall. Other Sub‑Saharan African countries with relatively higher overall ranks include Seychelles (40th), Mauritius (65th), Namibia (68th), Ghana (97th), Nigeria (100th), Mozambique (107th), and Kenya (119th).
Globalisation has held firm since 2022
The report tracks globalisation on a scale from 0 per cent (no cross-border flows) to 100 per cent (borders and distance have no impact). The world’s level of globalisation was 25 per cent in 2025, in line with the record high set in 2022.
“Globalisation is holding its ground – and that alone speaks volumes about its value,” said John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express. “From poverty to climate change, the world’s biggest challenges can only be solved through global thinking. The DHL Global Connectedness Report shows that countries and companies are not retreating behind national borders. That is good news. DHL strengthens global ties by connecting markets, businesses, and people so they can adapt, diversify, and unlock new opportunities – even in uncertain times.”
At the same time, the current level of globalisation underlines how far the world remains from being fully globalised. In many areas, international flows could expand further in the absence of policy constraints.
No global split into rival blocs
Even as the US. and China decouple, most countries continue to engage with their longstanding partners. Over the past decade, only 4–6 per cent of global goods trade, greenfield FDI, and cross-border M&A have shifted away from geopolitical rivals. Of these flows, most have not moved to close allies but to countries with flexible geopolitical positions, such as India and Vietnam. Overall, the world economy remains far from a broad split into rival blocs.
“The politics and policy surrounding globalisation are much more volatile than the actual flows between countries,” said Steven Altman, Director of the DHL Initiative on Globalisation at NYU Stern’s Center for the Future of Management. “Global trade patterns changed more in 2025 than they do in a typical year, but less than they did during other recent disruptions such as the early stages of the war in Ukraine. Sound decision-making requires a calibrated view of how much global business ties are really changing. The risks to globalisation are real, but so is the resilience of global flows.”
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The DHL Global Connectedness Report
Published regularly since 2011, the DHL Global Connectedness Report provides reliable insights on globalisation by analysing 14 types of international trade, capital, information, and people flows. The 2026 edition is based on more than 9 million data points. It ranks the connectedness of 180 countries, accounting for 99.6 per cent of global gross domestic product and 99.0 per cent of the world’s population. A set of 180 one-page country profiles summarises each country’s pattern of globalisation.
The report was commissioned by DHL and authored by Steven Altman and Caroline Bastian of New York University Stern School of Business.
The report and further resources are available at https://apo-opa.co/4diKcod
Facts Only
Global connectedness stood at 25% in 2025, matching the record high first reached in 2022.
The DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026 was released by DHL and NYU Stern School of Business.
The report analyzed over 9 million data points on international flows of trade, capital, information, and people.
Namibia ranks among the top three countries globally for long-term increases in connectedness since 2001.
Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia recorded strong gains in connectedness since 2022.
Sub-Saharan Africa showed varying levels of connectedness, with some economies strengthening global integration.
South Africa ranked 53rd in the 2024 country ranking of 180 economies.
Seychelles ranked 40th, Mauritius 65th, Namibia 68th, Ghana 97th, Nigeria 100th, Mozambique 107th, and Kenya 119th.
Africa recorded a 17% increase in international tourist arrivals in 2025 compared to 2019.
Only 4-6% of global goods trade, greenfield FDI, and cross-border M&A shifted away from geopolitical rivals over the past decade.
The report was authored by Steven Altman and Caroline Bastian of NYU Stern School of Business.
The report ranks 180 countries, covering 99.6% of global GDP and 99.0% of the world’s population.
Executive Summary
Global connectedness remained at a record high of 25% in 2025, matching levels first seen in 2022, despite geopolitical tensions and trade policy uncertainties. The DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026, produced in collaboration with NYU Stern School of Business, analyzed over 9 million data points on trade, capital, information, and people flows. Sub-Saharan Africa showed notable progress, with Namibia ranking among the top three countries for long-term connectedness gains since 2001, while Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia also demonstrated strong improvements. South Africa ranked 53rd globally, with Seychelles (40th) and Mauritius (65th) leading the region. The report highlights that globalisation has not fragmented into rival blocs, with only 4-6% of trade and investment shifting away from geopolitical rivals over the past decade. Tourism in Africa rebounded strongly, with a 17% increase in international arrivals in 2025 compared to pre-pandemic levels. DHL Express emphasizes the need for regional connectivity and predictable cross-border processes to further unlock Africa’s trade potential.
The findings suggest that while globalisation faces political and policy volatility, actual cross-border flows remain resilient. The report underscores that most countries continue engaging with established partners rather than retreating into isolationist blocs. However, the 25% globalisation level also indicates significant untapped potential for further integration, contingent on policy constraints. The report’s authors note that global trade patterns shifted more in 2025 than in a typical year but less than during major disruptions like the early stages of the Ukraine war. The analysis positions Africa as transitioning from an aid-dependent narrative to one driven by trade and competitiveness, though challenges in regional connectivity persist.
Full Take
The strongest version of this narrative presents globalisation as resilient despite geopolitical headwinds, with Africa emerging as a dynamic player in global trade networks. The report’s data-driven approach lends credibility, and its emphasis on Africa’s shift from aid to trade aligns with broader economic empowerment narratives. However, the framing of globalisation as "holding its ground" may downplay structural vulnerabilities—such as the concentration of trade shifts toward geopolitically flexible nations like India and Vietnam, which could signal early stages of bloc formation rather than outright decoupling. The report’s focus on Africa’s progress is commendable, but it risks oversimplifying regional disparities; while Namibia and Mauritius thrive, others lag far behind, and the 17% tourism rebound, though impressive, follows a pandemic collapse that left many economies fragile.
Patterns detected: none
The paradigm driving this narrative is one of technocratic optimism—globalisation as an inevitable, net-positive force, with policy constraints as the primary barrier to further integration. This assumes that deeper connectedness inherently benefits all actors equally, ignoring power asymmetries in global trade. Historically, this echoes post-Cold War liberalisation narratives, where economic interdependence was framed as a stabilising force, yet today’s geopolitical fractures suggest that resilience may be temporary. The implications for human agency are mixed: while African businesses gain access to global markets, their success depends on external partners like DHL, which positions itself as a "catalyst for growth." Who bears the costs? Local industries unprepared for competition, or workers displaced by shifting supply chains.
Bridge questions: How might Africa’s trade gains be sustained if geopolitical tensions escalate further? What role do regional blocs (e.g., AfCFTA) play in mitigating global fragmentation risks? Would the narrative change if the report included metrics on inequality or environmental costs of trade?
Counterstrike scan: A coordinated influence campaign would amplify the "Africa rising" narrative while downplaying risks of dependency or exploitation, using corporate-backed reports to frame globalisation as unstoppable and universally beneficial. The actual content does not match this pattern; it acknowledges uncertainties and regional disparities, avoiding overt corporate boosterism. The focus on data transparency and multiple perspectives (e.g., Altman’s caution on policy volatility) suggests genuine analytical rigor rather than propaganda.
Sentinel — Human
The article shows strong human authorship signals, with natural variance in tone, specific attributions, and contextual depth unlikely to be AI-generated.