China withdrawing from Africa

The number of Chinese workers in Africa hit a new low in 2022, marking a continued decline each year since peaking at nearly 264,000 workers in 2015.

According to the China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins, Algeria and Angola have consistently hosted the highest number of Chinese workers in Africa, with each country hosting over 400,000 workers between 2009 and 2022. These workers are primarily involved in construction projects led by Chinese contractors or employed by local companies.

The growth in their populations until 2015 mirrored the rise in gross revenues of Chinese companies in Africa. However, their numbers have since decreased, reflecting a broader decline in Chinese economic activity on the continent, as outlined in an IMF working paper.

The decreased number of Chinese workers was quite visible during my last trip to Ethiopia in January, where many construction projects are halted, and Chinese construction workers have been replaced by local peers.