Big data promises to drive economic growth and development, but if not applied across borders it can lead to a greater digital divide. There are, however, no indexes measuring big data readiness on country level. Most existing indexes cover topics such as digitalization and focus on developed economies with a clear underrepresentation of Africa. Thus, the underlying question to answer is: what are the required components for an index measuring big data readiness in Africa? The design science approach is used to design the Big Data Readiness Index (BDRI). The BDRI is developed in line with the academic definition of big data under the five V’s: volume, variety, velocity, veracity and value, and consists of 75 indicators, grouped into drivers that build up the five components. We apply this index to all African countries which yields, amongst others, country rankings that show relatively high BDRI levels for coastal countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Namibia as well as for islands such as Mauritius. Limitations and further development of the BDRI are discussed.