Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to achieve an average growth of 4.6% in 2026, surpassing Asia’s projected 4.1% for the first time, according to the IMF – World Economic Outlook Update Report, with several African countries forecast to grow at double-digit rates. This acceleration reflects the continent’s favorable demographics: Africa is home to the world’s youngest population and is forecast to account for a quarter of the global population by 2050.
Realizing this potential requires substantial investment in education and the creation of hundreds of millions of formal jobs. African policymakers have identified the mispricing of continental risk as a key barrier to meeting capital requirements. These dynamics present significant opportunities alongside the need for strategies that address infrastructure and capacity-building needs.