Africa's economic growth is expected to accelerate to 3.9% in 2025 and 4% in 2026, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB).
"These projections represent downward revisions of 0.2 and 0.4 percentage points compared to the latest estimates, due to the impact of weak global economic activity, which is expected to affect African exports," the AfDB stated in its 2025 African Economic Outlook report, published on the sidelines of the Bank's Annual Meetings, which are taking place until May 30 in Abidjan.
However, even considering the shock from customs duties and the uncertainty it generates, 21 African countries are expected to see production growth of over 5% in 2025.
These positive trends demonstrate the resilience of some African economies despite the increasing number of shocks, the decline in official development assistance (ODA), and the reduction of external financial flows.
The projected growth rates for Africa in 2025 and 2026 will therefore exceed the global average and that of other regions, except for emerging and developing Asia.
The AfDB also reported that the estimated real GDP per capita growth in Africa slightly increased, from 0.7% in 2023 to 0.9% in 2024, and is expected to reach 1.5% in 2025 and 1.7% in 2026.
These figures represent downward revisions compared to the February 2025 projections, which were 1.8% for 2025 and 2.2% for 2026.
The prospects for GDP per capita growth will also depend on the severity of the ongoing shocks. Achieving high and resilient economic growth rates should be a strategic priority for African countries in order to generate stronger economic growth and accelerate poverty reduction.
