Globalisation remains at a historically high level – despite escalating geopolitical tensions, rising US tariffs, and unprecedented uncertainty about future trade policies.
This is one of the key findings of the DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026, released by DHL and New York University’s Stern School of Business.
Based on more than 9-million data points tracking international flows of trade, capital, information, and people, the report offers the most comprehensive view of globalisation available.
Sub‑Saharan Africa: connectedness gains point to rising relevance in global trade
Against this global backdrop, the report presents a nuanced picture for sub‑Saharan Africa.
While levels of connectedness differ significantly across the region, several economies are strengthening their integration into global flows, underscoring steady progress over time, and highlighting scope for further gains in others.
Namibia ranks among the countries with the largest increases in connectedness since 2001, with Mozambique also featuring among the strongest long‑run improvers.
More recently, Nigeria and Zambia are listed among the countries with the largest connectedness gains since 2022, reflecting growing momentum in trade, investment and people flows.
Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub‑Saharan Africa, comments: “As supply chains across the globe continue to develop and trade routes expand into new territories, connectedness is emerging as a key differentiator for businesses and nations alike.
“The countries in our region that are strengthening their global links are becoming more visible in international trade networks.
“While this is an encouraging trend in terms of the scope of opportunities available, the key is to take advantage of these opportunities to drive consistent and reliable trade flows,” he adds.
“This report further underscores how Africa is increasingly shifting from a narrative of aid to one of trade, a transformation powered by stronger integration, rising competitiveness, and improved access to global markets.
“To fully unlock this potential, the region needs strong regional connectivity, predictable cross-border processes, and partners that understand both local conditions and global trade requirements.”
Beyond trade and investment, the report finds that people flows have recovered fully from the Covid‑19 collapse. In tourism, UN data show that Africa recorded a 17% increase in international arrivals in 2025 compared with 2019, the second‑largest increase among world regions, behind the Middle East.
In the report’s 2024 country ranking of 180 economies, South Africa ranks 53rd overall. Other sub‑Saharan African countries with relatively higher overall ranks include Seychelles (40th), Mauritius (65th), Namibia (68th), Ghana (97th), Nigeria (100th), Mozambique (107th), and Kenya (119th).
Globalisation has held firm since 2022
The report tracks globalisation on a scale from 0% (no cross-border flows) to 100% (borders and distance have no impact). The world’s level of globalization was 25% in 2025, in line with the record high set in 2022.
“Globalisation is holding its ground – and that alone speaks volumes about its value,” says John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express. “From poverty to climate change, the world’s biggest challenges can only be solved through global thinking.
“The DHL Global Connectedness Report shows that countries and companies are not retreating behind national borders. That is good news.”
At the same time, the current level of globalisation underlines how far the world remains from being fully globalized. In many areas, international flows could expand further in the absence of policy constraints.
No global split into rival blocs
Even as the U.SS and China decouple, most countries continue to engage with their longstanding partners. Over the past decade, only 4% to 6% of global goods trade, greenfield FDI, and cross-border M&A have shifted away from geopolitical rivals.
Of these flows, most have not moved to close allies but to countries with flexible geopolitical positions, such as India and Vietnam.
Overall, the world economy remains far from a broad split into rival blocs.
“The politics and policy surrounding globalisation are much more volatile than the actual flows between countries,” says Professor Steven Altman, director of the DHL Initiative on Globalization at NYU Stern’s Centre for the Future of Management.
“Global trade patterns changed more in 2025 than they do in a typical year, but less than they did during other recent disruptions such as the early stages of the war in Ukraine. Sound decision-making requires a calibrated view of how much global business ties are really changing.
“The risks to globalisation are real, but so is the resilience of global flows.”