The World Bank has raised Africa’s 2026 economic growth forecast to 4.3%, citing stronger performance across the region, and urged governments to embrace AI to boost productivity and create jobs.
The region has weathered a tough global environment, the lender said in its Africa Economic Update report on Tuesday, marked by higher energy prices due to the impact of the Iran war on supply chains. The new growth forecast is up from the 4.1% expected in April. In 2025, the region’s economy grew by 4.1%.
The upgrade shows growing confidence that reforms in some of Africa’s biggest economies are paying off even as the Iran war roils global energy markets. But these gains have yet to make a dent in poverty, with per capita income growth still trailing broader economic growth across much of the continent.
“Economic activity in Sub-Saharan Africa continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience, with growth forecasts upgraded for
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