Kenya 4th: List of top 10 African countries with longest road network

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- A 2026 report ranked Kenya fourth on the continent for total road coverage

- Kenya's road network spans 161,452 km, placing it ahead of DRC, Tanzania, Mali, Algeria, Zimbabwe and South Sudan

- South Africa leads all African nations with 750,000 km of roads, ranking 11th globally according to Global Firepower data

Kenya's total road network of 161,452 kilometres has secured the country a fourth-place finish among African nations in 2026.

This is data compiled by Global Firepower.

The ranking positions Kenya comfortably ahead of five other African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo at 152,373 km, Tanzania at 145,203 km, Mali at 139,107 km, Algeria at 112,696 km, Zimbabwe at 97,267 km, and South Sudan at 90,200 km.

On the global stage, Kenya sits at 32nd place.

Which African country has the longest road network?

South Africa leads Africa by a wide margin.

The country's dominance of the continental ranking is considerable. The country's road network stretches 750,000 km, roughly 4.6 times the size of Kenya's, and earns it 11th place globally.

No other African country comes close to that figure within the top 10.

Nigeria occupies second place with 195,000 km, while Ethiopia is third at 180,000 km. Kenya trails Ethiopia by 18,548 km, a gap that, while significant, leaves it within reach of the top three.

Where does Kenya stand in EAC?

Kenya's advantage over its immediate rivals in the ranking is clearest when measured against DRC, which it leads by 9,079 km, and Tanzania, which it exceeds by 16,249 km.

Mali, in seventh place, sits 22,345 km below Kenya's total.

The top 10 countries in the ranking represent a broad geographical spread across the continent, with nations from Southern, West, East, Central, and North Africa all featuring.

Algeria is the sole North African country on the list, placing eighth with 112,696 km.

Zimbabwe and South Sudan round out the ranking in ninth and tenth positions respectively, with South Sudan's 90,200 km network earning it 57th place globally, compared to South Africa's 11th-place finish.

The figures reflect considerable variation in road infrastructure development across Africa, with the gap between the first-ranked country and the tenth standing at more than 659,000 km.

Which counties have longest Class C roads?

In other news, we also highlighted facts about Murang’a county's leadership in Kenya's Class C rural paved road rankings.

The list showcased a significant investment in the county's infrastructure with 389.6 kilometres of tarmac as of 2026.

The stark contrast in road quality across different regions raises questions about equitable development, as many northern and eastern counties still grapple with inadequate transportation networks.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.