Have you ever considered the possibility of earning a living through esports in any of the 54 African countries? How would you persuade your parents and community that being an esports athlete is a legitimate career? Here are some statistics to back you up!
In 2023 South Africa dominated the statistics on various earning slices including top esports earners from Africa according to statistics and data collected and reported by Esports Earnings website.
What makes South Africa Stand out from the rest? A look at the dominance of South Africa in esports within Africa and the factors propelling the country’s success cut across infrastructure, economic conditions, and social dynamics in the country.
Esports and gaming rely heavily on internet connectivity especially in competing and engaging in international events. South Africa generally has better internet infrastructure compared to many other African countries, providing reliable and high-speed internet access essential for online gaming making it possible for more South African gamers and esports athletes to participate frequently in major events.
A look into the number of gaming cafes, esports arenas, and technology hubs that support the growth of the esports ecosystem in South African as compared to many other African counties shows the dominance of south Africa in number and the level tech investment in these hubs. Access to games and by a larger number of the population means there more people playing these games and at higher levels compared to other countries in Africa
Game servers are crucial for an enjoyable online gaming experience and play a significant role in the success of online esports tournaments. South Africa stands out as one of the few African nations hosting a variety of game servers and platforms, catering to both the local and continental gaming communities. These servers support popular games such as Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), and Fortnite.
The economic, investment, and sponsorship interests in the South African economy draw more investment and sponsorship from both local and international companies interested in gaming and esports, owing to its relatively larger economy and market size compared to other African nations. Most esports organisations in South Africa depend on this form of investment to stay relevant and sustainable. With substantial investment, they have managed to offer significant visibility and returns for these investing organisations.
TOP EARNING AFRICAN ESPORTS ATHLETES – 2023
Name | Game Tag | Country | Team | Game | Tournaments Earned |
JT | JT | South Africa | – | Unknown | Total earnings: $196,451.14 |
Sonic | Sonic | South Africa | Bravado Gaming | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Total earnings: $122,019.36 |
Snowyy | Snowyy | South Africa | Goliath Gaming | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Total earnings: $58,291.50 |
Fadey | Fadey | South Africa | Goliath Gaming | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Total earnings: $55,488.79 |
Darth | Darth | South Africa | Energy Esports | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Total earnings: $51,191.50 |
2Die4 | 2Die4 | South Africa | – | Unknown | Total earnings: $48,099.53 |
Kaylan | Kaylan | South Africa | White Rabbit | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Total earnings: $47,899.86 |
Beast | Beast | South Africa | Goliath Gaming | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Total earnings: $47,083.33 |
Detrony | Detrony | South Africa | Energy Esports | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Total earnings: $44,272.50 |
Elusive | Elusive | South Africa | Big 5 Esports | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Total earnings: $39,558.70 |
Name | Game Tag | Country | Team | Game | Tournaments Earned |
Sonic | Sonic | South Africa | Bravado Gaming | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | ESL One: Cologne 2023, IEM Katowice 2023 |
Snowyy | Snowyy | South Africa | Goliath Gaming | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | ESL One: Cologne 2023, IEM Katowice 2023 |
Fadey | Fadey | South Africa | Goliath Gaming | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | ESL One: Cologne 2023, IEM Katowice 2023 |
Darth | Darth | South Africa | Energy Esports | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | ESL One: Cologne 2023, IEM Katowice 2023 |
Kaylan | Kaylan | South Africa | White Rabbit | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | ESL One: Cologne 2023, IEM Katowice 2023 |
JT | JT | South Africa | – | Unknown | Various tournaments |
2Die4 | 2Die4 | South Africa | – | Unknown | Various tournaments |
Beast | Beast | South Africa | Goliath Gaming | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Various tournaments |
Detrony | Detrony | South Africa | Energy Esports | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Various tournaments |
Elusive | Elusive | South Africa | Big 5 Esports | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Various tournaments |