<p>Reliable and accessible geospatial data are essential for monitoring sustainable development; however, many African countries face persistent data gaps that hinder evidence-based policymaking. Digital Earth (DE) technologies integrating Earth Observation, geospatial analytics, and cloud computing offer new opportunities to address these challenges. This study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis of Digital Earth applications supporting sustainable development in Africa. Using a PRISMA-based approach, 52 peer-reviewed studies published between 2005 and 2025 were analysed to evaluate the application domains, technological frameworks, and development outcomes associated with DE technologies. The results show that Digital Earth platforms significantly enhance environmental monitoring and decision-support capabilities, particularly in agriculture, land management, water resources, and urban development. However, major barriers remain, including limited technical capacity, inadequate digital infrastructure, and challenges in integrating multi-source geospatial datasets. This study contributes to the literature by providing the first comprehensive synthesis of Digital Earth applications for sustainable development in Africa and by identifying key technological and institutional conditions required for scaling geospatial data systems across the continent.</p>