Africa Will Have Some of Fastest-Growing Economies Globally in 2025

BREAKING NEWSJanuary 7, 2025 at 8:43 AM UTC

TLDR

Nine of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies in 2025 will be in Africa, according to the IMF
Countries like Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, and Tanzania will see growth exceeding 6%
In contrast, resource-intensive economies, including Nigeria, Angola, and South Africa, have stagnated or declined

Nine of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies in 2025 will be in Africa, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This impressive performance highlights the growing divergence within the continent between resource-rich nations and those less dependent on commodity exports.

Countries like Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, and Tanzania, where growth is projected to exceed 6%, have sustained steady economic expansion by focusing on agriculture, manufacturing, services, and technology sectors.

In contrast, resource-intensive economies, including Nigeria, Angola, and South Africa, have stagnated or declined GDP per capita over the past decade due to volatile commodity prices and limited diversification. The nine economies are South Sudan, Libya, Senegal, Sudan, Uganda, Niger, Zambia, Benin Republic and Rwanda.

Key Takeaways

The success of non-resource-intensive countries underscores the importance of finding alternative growth drivers. Without the cushion of high oil or mineral prices, these nations have invested in infrastructure, education, and private-sector development, making their economies more resilient to external shocks. For instance, Rwanda’s emphasis on governance and technology-enabled services, Ethiopia’s large-scale infrastructure projects, and Ivory Coast’s diversification into agro-industries have set these countries apart.

Economy

South Sudan

Libya

Senegal

Sudan

Uganda

Niger

Zambia

Benin Republic

Rwanda