10 African Countries With the Highest Petrol Prices in October 2026
High petrol prices continue to put pressure on households and businesses across Africa, where fuel costs affect transport fares, the movement of goods and the price of everyday necessities.
The impact goes beyond motorists. When fuel becomes more expensive, transport operators face higher running costs, while farmers, traders and delivery businesses may have to spend more to move products to markets. These additional expenses can eventually be passed on to consumers through higher prices.
The World Bank has highlighted how Africa’s reliance on road transport makes economies vulnerable to oil price shocks, with higher fuel costs feeding into freight charges and food prices.
According to GlobalPetrolPrices, differences in fuel taxes and government subsidies are among the main reasons why petrol costs vary between countries. Other factors include exchange rates, import and distribution expenses, and domestic fuel-pricing policies.
Countries that depend heavily on imported petroleum can face additional pressure when their currencies weaken against the US dollar, making fuel purchases more expensive in local currency. Governments that subsidise fuel may limit the immediate impact on consumers, while those with fewer subsidies may see more of the cost reflected at filling stations.
These differences are reflected in the latest African petrol-price figures for October 2026.
Africa’s 10 most expensive petrol markets
Data published by GlobalPetrolPrices for 19 October 2026 places Malawi at the top of the ranking, followed by Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone.
Rank| Country| Price per litre (US$)
1| Malawi| 3.226
2| Zimbabwe| 2.050
3| Sierra Leone| 2.033
4| Cape Verde| 2.002
5| Rwanda| 1.991
6| Central African Republic| 1.967
7| South Africa| 1.819
8| Seychelles| 1.774
9| Lesotho| 1.745
10| Kenya| 1.735
Malawi recorded the highest price at US$3.226 per litre, significantly above Zimbabwe’s US$2.050. The difference between the two countries is US$1.176 per litre.
At the other end of the top ten, Kenya recorded US$1.735 per litre, making it the least expensive country among those listed.
Where does Namibia rank?
Namibia recorded a petrol price of US$1.622 per litre in the same dataset, placing it outside the ten most expensive markets. This was below the prices recorded in all ten countries in the ranking.
One factor that may help cushion Namibian consumers is the government’s intervention in the fuel-pricing system. As reported by The Updated World in its October fuel-price update, the government uses the National Energy Fund (NEF) and bulk fuel procurement arrangements to reduce the impact of international price increases.
Namibia also imports all its refined petroleum products, leaving the country exposed to changes in global markets. Government interventions may therefore help explain part of the difference in prices, but they are not the only factor determining Namibia’s position in the African ranking.
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