Top 10 African countries with the lowest fuel prices in May 2026

Reduced fuel prices can give critical economic relief to African countries, especially as global energy markets remain unpredictable due to the ongoing conflicts across the globe.

• The global average fuel cost rose from $1.49 to $1.52 per liter compared to last month’s list, indicating a modest overall increase.
• In Africa, Tunisia, Niger, Nigeria, Gabon, and Ethiopia all recorded higher fuel prices this month.
• The remaining countries on the list saw no change in fuel prices, maintaining last month’s levels.
• This suggests a pattern of selective price increases rather than a broad-based rise, with only a handful of markets driving the upward movement.

Said conflicts, particularly the current Iranian war, have interrupted critical shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil transit, resulting in gasoline price hikes and exposing Africa's vulnerability to external energy shocks.

Because most African countries import a large amount of their refined petroleum products, rising global oil prices swiftly lead to greater transportation costs, inflation, and pressure on household earnings.

As global crude oil prices rose in recent months, governments throughout the continent were obliged to raise fuel costs.

This is why even modest decreases in fuel prices or brief relief measures can have a significant economic impact.

One of the primary benefits of decreasing fuel prices is less inflationary pressure.

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Fuel impacts almost every aspect of the economy, from transportation and agriculture to manufacturing and food distribution.

When fuel becomes less expensive, businesses spend less money transporting items across cities and countries, helping to stabilize the prices consumers pay for food and other necessities.

Lower fuel prices boost productivity for small enterprises and informal workers, who account for a sizable share of Africa's workforce.

There are also social benefits to having a low fuel price.

Lower fuel costs lessen the need for governments to implement costly subsidies or emergency tax relief measures.

In South Africa, officials recently reduced fuel charges temporarily to protect customers from rising oil prices caused by the Middle East crisis.

Ultimately, lower fuel prices give more than just short-term consumer relief; they can help to promote economic stability, boost industrial activity, increase trade efficiency, and shield African economies from the long-term consequences of global geopolitical strife.

With that said, here are the African countries with the lowest cost of fuel in May 2026, per data from GlobalPetrolPrices.

Compared to last month’s list, when the global average cost of fuel was 1.49 U.S. dollars per liter, as opposed to 1.52 U.S. dollars per liter, this month, fuel prices in Tunisia, Niger, Nigeria, Gabon, and Ethiopia all increased.

Every other country on the list retained the same fuel cost.