Population-adjusted analysis of COVID-19 active cases, while not capturing the speed at which the pandemic spreads, is a useful indicator of the relative strain put on countries from a public service delivery perspective. For instance, while the worst hit countries in terms of raw numbers of confirmed cases are South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana and Algeria, the countries bearing the biggest burden in terms of both adjusted total confirmed and current active cases are relatively small, island states, and South Africa. This finding offers insights on the shared challenge these countries are facing, but also on the need for tailoring continental support to the specific features and capacity needs of these diverse contexts. It also highlights the importance of strengthening statistical capacity on the continent as a fundamental tool for ensuring accurate policies and effective public service delivery that leaves no one behind – key pillars of governance.