World Bank sees Sub-Saharan African growth rising to 4.3 per cent

6 October 2026

The World Bank Group's Africa Economic Update, released on October 6, 2026, projects that growth in Sub-Saharan Africa will rise from 4.1 per cent in 2025 to 4.3 per cent in 2026, which is 0.3 percentage points above the April 2026 forecast. Growth forecasts were upgraded for nearly three-quarters of countries in the region, including Angola, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Zambia. Median inflation is projected to rise from 3.7 per cent in 2025 to 5.5 per cent in 2026, and public debt has stabilised at around 57 per cent of GDP. The report's special topic is artificial intelligence, with activity concentrated in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Andrew Dabalen, World Bank Chief Economist for the Africa Region, said the next challenge is turning growth into more jobs and better opportunities.