Economy

West Africa Growth Projected at 4.6% in 2026, Remains Resilient — AfDB Report

By editor

Posted on August 12, 2026

West Africa demonstrated economic resilience in 2025, recording growth of 4.8%, above the continental average of 4.4%, amid geopolitical tensions, insecurity in parts of the region, increasing fragmentation of the global economy and heightened volatility in international financial markets.

These were among the major highlights of the African Development Bank Group’s 2026 West Africa Regional Economic Outlook and the 2026 Côte d’Ivoire Country Focus Report.

The region’s outlook remains promising, with growth projected at 4.6% in 2026, driven by stronger private investment, recovering domestic demand, continued infrastructure investments and expansion in the oil, gas and mining sectors.

However, prolonged geopolitical tensions, persistent global inflation, rising public debt vulnerabilities and tighter financial conditions could weigh on this positive outlook Both reports were launched on 28 July in Abidjan.

Côte d’Ivoire remains the largest economy in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and is expected to grow by 6.5% in 2025. The Country Focus Report (CFR) further notes that its economic momentum remains strong.

Maintaining the momentum for Cote d’Ivoire will require greater resource mobilisation and continued reforms. Trade tensions, geopolitical uncertainty, inflationary pressures and tighter international financing conditions could weigh on growth and investment prospects.

The report argues that Côte d’Ivoire’s ambition to attain upper-middle-income status by 2030 will depend on its ability to accelerate structural transformation through industrialisation, private-sector development and expanded fiscal space.

To support this ambition, the Country Focus Report highlights several priorities, including greater formalisation of the economy, improved property and mining taxation, better taxation of electronic commerce, continued financial-sector reforms and stronger mobilisation of domestic and external investment.

“Our ambition is not limited to generating growth. It is about transforming that growth into jobs, stronger human capital, higher productivity, and shared prosperity.