ECONOMY |
World Bank Raises Sub-Saharan Africa Growth Forecast to 4.3%
The World Bank's latest Africa Economic Update says the region is proving resilient despite conflict, aid cuts and climate shocks, and calls for an AI-ready economy to turn growth into jobs.
Washington, D.C.. Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to rise from 4.1% in 2025 to 4.3% in 2026, 0.3 percentage points above the April forecast, according to the World Bank's latest Africa Economic Update.
The outlook is supported by improved macroeconomic resilience, stronger domestic demand and investment linked to the energy transition and digital technologies.
Risks remain
Conflict in the Middle East, trade policy uncertainty, tighter financial conditions, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and insecurity continue to weigh on activity. The IMF's October outlook projects 4.5% regional growth in 2026 and 2027, but warns that risks are tilted to the downside.
The World Bank stresses that growth is still not fast enough to substantially cut extreme poverty or create enough jobs for the region's rapidly growing workforce.
An AI-ready economy
The report argues that building the foundations for an AI-ready economy, including electricity, connectivity and skills, can help turn growth into more and better jobs for young Africans.
Key Points
- 2026 growth forecast: 4.3%
- Up 0.3 points from April
- IMF projects 4.5% for 2026 and 2027
- Jobs and AI readiness in focus