TITLE:
The Role of Education and Human Capital on Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan African Countries (2020-2025): A Systematic Review
AUTHORS:
Estimé Nobel Basabakwinshi, Léonidas Ndayizeye
KEYWORDS:
Education, Human Capital, Economic Growth, Sub-Saharan Africa, Systematic Review, PRISMA
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Financial Risk Management,
Vol.15 No.4,
November
10,
2026
ABSTRACT: This systematic review captures empirical evidence from 2020 to 2025 regarding the education-human capital nexus to economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Four thematic objectives guide this review: What is the nature and direction of human capital impact on SSA growth; to what extent does governance/institutional quality condition human capital impact; what are the complementary and attenuating factors influencing human capital effectiveness; and what country-specific policy lessons can be gleaned. This review applied PRISMA methodology by deploying a systematic search across major academic databases and African-based journals, pre-defined study selection protocols, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and quality appraisal. Eighteen studies were retained for this synthesis. The results revealed that education, as an indicator of human capital development and human capital formation, showed a positive and significant effect on economic growth in most SSA panel studies. However, its effectiveness may be undermined or reinforced by the quality of governance & institutions, tax structure, efficiency in public expenditure, and migration. Time-series evidence from Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa proves a long-run co-integration relationship between public expenditure on education and output, while higher education financing and digital transformation are emergent areas with limited in-depth research. It concludes that education as a driver of SSA growth produces the desired long-run benefits only under conditions of institutional quality, prudent public resource management, and appropriate strategies for the retention of human capital.