Africa is richly endowed with land, minerals, oil, gas, fertile soil, creative talent, and the youngest population in the world.
Yet, despite this wealth, many African countries continue to struggle with weak public services, unemployment, and slow economic growth.
Across Africa, one pattern stands out above all others, and that is leaders who cling to power long after they should have gone. And one strong reason for this is that leaders earn compensation that far exceeds average national income levels. 
Some African presidents and leaders have been known to earn more than 200 times what the average citizen makes annually.
This article examines the ten highest-paid African presidents and leaders, drawing on figures published by Business Insider Africa, The Exchange Africa, and AfricaW.com, alongside available government budget data.
Where official salary figures are opaque or disputed, we note that clearly. All figures are in US dollars and reflect available 2024–2025 data.
ALSO READ: The African Country Where Everyone Was a Millionaire But They Couldn’t Afford Bread
10 Highest-Paid African Presidents
1. Paul Biya — Cameroon | $620,976 per year
Paul Biya is, by most credible accounts, the highest-paid president on the African continent.
The president of Cameroon is paid $620,976, excluding all allowances. To put that in context, that is over $200,000 more than the annual salary of the president of the United States.
Biya has been in power since 6 November 1982, and his official salary alone is roughly 388 times what the average Cameroonian earns.
2. King Mohammed VI — Morocco | $488,604 per year
Morocco’s monarch ascends to second place on this list with an official annual salary of approximately $488,604.
But the salary is almost irrelevant when one considers the broader financial picture. Forbes estimates that the maintenance costs of his office run to $960,000 daily, paid for by taxpayers. This budget covers his cars, personnel, and wardrobe.
King Mohammed VI has been on the throne since 23 July 1999. Beyond his official salary, the Moroccan monarch also controls vast personal investments and royal assets.
3. King Mswati III — Eswatini | $50 million per year (royal household budget)
No list of highly remunerated African leaders is complete without Eswatini’s King Mswati III, whose financial situation defies easy comparison.
Unlike elected presidents with declared salaries, Mswati’s remuneration is channelled through a royal household budget.
Reports indicate that Mswati earns an annual salary of approximately $50 million, while his subjects live on as little as $1.90 a day.
Mswati has ruled by decree since 1986. He has 16 wives and 35 children.
4. Cyril Ramaphosa — South Africa | $223,500 per year
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa earns an official annual salary of $223,500, excluding allowances, according to Business Insider Africa and AfricaW.com.
He is one of the richest people in South Africa, with an estimated net worth of more than $450 million, wealth he accumulated before entering the presidency.
Ramaphosa replaced the corruption-tainted Jacob Zuma in 2018 and was re-elected in 2024. His salary is generally considered more proportionate to the country’s economic weight than that of many of his counterparts elsewhere on the continent.
5. William Ruto — Kenya | $192,200 per year
Kenya’s President William Ruto has earned an official annual salary of approximately $192,200 since he took office in September 2022.
Kenya is one of East Africa’s most transparent governments when it comes to presidential remuneration, with salary figures publicly declared.
Beyond the base salary, Ruto receives transport allowances, housing, medical coverage, and security privileges.
YOU MIGHT LIKE: 10 African Cities and What They Are Known For
6. Yoweri Museveni — Uganda | $183,216 per year
Uganda’s long-serving president, Yoweri Museveni, earns an official salary of approximately $183,216 per year, according to AfricaW.com. He has been in power since 1986.
7. Abdelmadjid Tebboune — Algeria | $168,000 per year
Algeria’s president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, earns approximately $168,000 annually. He has served as president since December 2019, when he replaced Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
8. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo — Equatorial Guinea | $150,000–$152,000 per year
Equatorial Guinea’s president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, earns an official annual salary of approximately $150,000 to $152,000 and has served as Equatorial Guinea’s president since 3 August 1979.
9. El-Sisi — Egypt | $107,000–$120,000 per year (officially)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi‘s official salary is among the most difficult to pin down with precision, as Egyptian presidential finances are not fully transparent.
Various sources place his official remuneration in the range of $107,000 to $120,000 per year. El-Sisi came to power following a military coup in 2013.
10. Bola Tinubu — Nigeria | $94,000 per year (officially)
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu earns an official annual salary of approximately $94,000. He came to office in May 2023 and immediately removed the long-standing fuel subsidy, triggering a sharp surge in the cost of living that has pushed millions of Nigerians deeper into poverty.
His monthly basic salary is N1,405,882, which is estimated to be $879. His consolidated allowances are set to be around $4,688.
In addition to the regular salary, the president is entitled to several allowances, including hardship allowance (50% of basic salary), consistency allowance (250% of basic), leave allowance, estacodes, duty tour, security, accommodation, utility, furniture (paid once every four years), staff, and vehicle maintenance.
The figures above, striking as they are, only scratch the surface of the true cost of African presidential leadership.
Official salaries rarely include security details that cost millions annually, state aircraft, foreign medical treatment, residential allowances, and the extensive retinues that accompany African heads of state wherever they travel.
Analysts also note that in reality, most African leaders make more than ten times their official salaries every single year, when all allowances and state benefits are factored in.
About The Author
