As of June 2026, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its latest World Economic Outlook, providing verified GDP figures for African nations. Nigeria remains the largest economy in Africa with a GDP of approximately $477 billion, followed by South Africa at $401 billion and Egypt at $398 billion. These rankings are based on nominal GDP data from the IMF's April 2026 database.
Algeria and Ethiopia round out the top five, with GDPs of $245 billion and $205 billion respectively. The IMF notes that several African economies have shown resilience despite global inflationary pressures, with growth rates averaging 3.8% for sub-Saharan Africa in 2025, projected at 4.1% for 2026.
Key sectors driving growth include agriculture, digital services, and renewable energy investments. However, challenges such as debt sustainability and climate change impacts remain significant across the continent.
