Sub-Saharan Africa: growth of 4.5 % in 2025, real GDP +22.6 % since 2020 (IMF). GDP of 2,175 bn$.
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook (October 2026) · updated on
GDP, current dollars
Billions of current dollars · dashed: estimates and projections
Chart data as a table
| Year | Sub-Saharan Africa |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,872 bn$ |
| 2016 | 1,718 bn$ |
| 2017 | 1,820 bn$ |
| 2018 | 1,974 bn$ |
| 2019 | 2,029 bn$ |
| 2020 | 1,889 bn$ |
| 2021 | 2,111 bn$ |
| 2022 | 2,251 bn$ |
| 2023 | 2,115 bn$ |
| 2024 | 2,016 bn$ |
| 2025 · estimate | 2,175 bn$ |
| 2026 · projection | 2,514 bn$ |
| 2027 · projection | 2,748 bn$ |
| 2028 · projection | 2,890 bn$ |
| 2029 · projection | 3,065 bn$ |
| 2030 · projection | 3,271 bn$ |
The five regions
GDP in current dollars, 2020 → 2025
- 1 Central Africa +62.7 %
- 2 Southern Africa +41.6 %
- 3 East Africa +33.5 %
- 4 North Africa +23.6 %
- 5 West Africa −17.0 %
All indicators
Value in 2025 and change since 2020
| Indicator | 2020 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | −3.1 % | +4.5 % | +7.6 pt |
| GDP, current dollars | 1,889 bn$ | 2,175 bn$ | +15.2 % |
| GDP per capita | 1,774 $ | 1,810 $ | +2.0 % |
| GDP per capita, PPP | 4,660 $ | 6,258 $ | +34.3 % |
| Inflation | 12.3 % | 12.6 % | +0.3 pt |
| Public debt | 51.4 % | 56.8 % | +5.4 pt |
| Population | 1,063.9 M | 1,201.7 M | +13.0 % |
| Fiscal balance | −5.8 % | −3.6 % | +2.2 pt |
| Current account | −2.3 % | −0.8 % | +1.5 pt |
| Unemployment | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Public finances and external accounts
A fiscal deficit of 3.6 % of GDP
Sub-Saharan Africa: in 2025, the general government spent 3.6 % of GDP more than it collected, public debt stood at 56.8 % of GDP, the current account showed a deficit of 0.8 % (IMF).
- Fiscal balance · 2025
- −3.6 %
- of GDP · +2.2 pt since 2020
- Public debt · 2025
- 56.8 %
- of GDP · +5.4 pt since 2020
- Current account · 2025
- −0.8 %
- of GDP · +1.5 pt since 2020
Fiscal balance, % of GDP
Negative: a deficit · dashed: estimates and projections
Chart data as a table
| Year | Sub-Saharan Africa |
|---|---|
| 2015 | −3.6 % |
| 2016 | −3.8 % |
| 2017 | −4.0 % |
| 2018 | −3.1 % |
| 2019 | −3.7 % |
| 2020 | −5.8 % |
| 2021 | −4.6 % |
| 2022 | −3.9 % |
| 2023 | −3.9 % |
| 2024 | −3.6 % |
| 2025 · estimate | −3.6 % |
| 2026 · projection | −3.7 % |
| 2027 · projection | −3.4 % |
| 2028 · projection | −3.3 % |
| 2029 · projection | −3.3 % |
| 2030 · projection | −3.2 % |
- Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook (October 2026) · general government net lending or borrowing · group values weighted by GDP in dollars (Syli Atlas)
Current account, % of GDP
Trade, income and transfers with the rest of the world
Chart data as a table
| Year | Sub-Saharan Africa |
|---|---|
| 2015 | −4.9 % |
| 2016 | −3.1 % |
| 2017 | −1.7 % |
| 2018 | −1.8 % |
| 2019 | −2.6 % |
| 2020 | −2.3 % |
| 2021 | −0.7 % |
| 2022 | −1.7 % |
| 2023 | −2.3 % |
| 2024 | −1.1 % |
| 2025 · estimate | −0.8 % |
| 2026 · projection | −0.6 % |
| 2027 · projection | −0.9 % |
| 2028 · projection | −1.1 % |
| 2029 · projection | −1.0 % |
| 2030 · projection | −0.9 % |
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook (October 2026)
Questions
How much has the economy of Sub-Saharan Africa grown since 2020?
Sub-Saharan Africa: growth of 4.5 % in 2025, real GDP +22.6 % since 2020 (IMF). GDP of 2,175 bn$.
What is the GDP per capita of Sub-Saharan Africa?
1,810 $ in 2025 at market exchange rates, 6,258 $ in purchasing power parity (IMF).
What is the inflation rate in Sub-Saharan Africa?
12.6 % in 2025, average annual change in consumer prices (IMF).
What is the public debt of Sub-Saharan Africa?
56.8 % of GDP in 2025, gross debt of the general government (IMF).
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Syli Atlas, « Sub-Saharan Africa », https://syliatlas.com/en/regions/sub-saharan-africa. Data: IMF, World Economic Outlook (October 2026).