Unlike some other parts of the world, neighbouring countries in sub-Saharan Africa do not generate large spillovers over and above the rest of the region, whether we define neighbours in terms of borders or distance. Broader regional effects dominate on the continent. South Africa can account for part of this, but the regional effects appear to be driven by the resource-rich countries, where a 1% point rise in their GDP per capita is associated with a 0.36% point rise in the rest of the continent. Therefore, the appropriate use of natural wealth could generate positive growth externalities for other countries.