The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its 2026 growth forecast for sub-Saharan Africa to 4.5% in its World Economic Outlook on 13 October, up from 4.3% in July. Ethiopia leads the region at 9.2%, followed by Rwanda at 7.4% and Benin at 7.0%, while Nigeria is projected at 4.2% and South Africa at 1.0%. The IMF credits Nigeria’s outlook to steadier macroeconomic policy and better terms of trade, but warned that higher prices for essential goods could deepen poverty. The gap between fast-growing East and West African economies and slow-growing South Africa is widening, which shifts investor attention towards the region’s smaller markets.
Sources
- BusinessDay (South Africa): https://www.businessday.co.za/economy/2026-10-13-imf-keeps-its-growth-forecast-for-sa-largely-steady/
- BusinessDay (Nigeria): https://businessday.ng/business-economy/article/nigeria-trails-african-peers-as-imf-places-2026-growth-in-the-middle-of-the-pack/
- Nairametrics: https://nairametrics.com/2026/10/13/imf-raises-nigerias-2026-growth-forecast-to-4-2-acknowledges-nigerians-are-suffering/
- Graphic Online: https://www.graphic.com.gh/business/business-news/imf-ghana-among-stronger-performers-in-sub-saharan-africa.html