Region · west_africa
West Africa
Period
West Africa: GDP of 722.6 bn$ in 2025 (IMF), −17.0 % since 2020 in current dollars. Growth in 2025: +4.8 %.
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook (October 2026) · copied on 2026-11-11
- GDP, current dollars
- 722.6 bn$
- 2025 · −17.0 % since 2020
- GDP per capita
- 1,563 $
- 2025 · −26.1 % since 2020
- Inflation
- 16.6 %
- 2025 · +5.9 pt since 2020
- Public debt
- 49.0 %
- 2025 · +13.1 pt since 2020
GDP, current dollars
Billions of current dollars · dashed: estimates and projections
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 | −3.9 % | +4.8 % | +8.7 pt |
| GDP, current dollars | 870.3 bn$ | 722.6 bn$ | −17.0 % |
| GDP per capita | 2,116 $ | 1,563 $ | −26.1 % |
| GDP per capita, PPP | 5,665 $ | 7,463 $ | +31.7 % |
| Inflation | 10.7 % | 16.6 % | +5.9 pt |
| Public debt | 35.9 % | 49.0 % | +13.1 pt |
| Population | 411.3 M | 462.4 M | +12.4 % |
| Fiscal balance | −5.4 % | −2.5 % | +2.9 pt |
| Current account | −3.3 % | +2.0 % | +5.3 pt |
| Unemployment | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Member countries
GDP in current dollars, 2020 → 2025
Public finances and external accounts
A fiscal deficit of 2.5 % of GDP
West Africa: in 2025, the general government spent 2.5 % of GDP more than it collected, public debt stood at 49.0 % of GDP, the current account showed a surplus of 2.0 % (IMF).
- Fiscal balance · 2025
- −2.5 %
- of GDP · +2.9 pt since 2020
- Public debt · 2025
- 49.0 %
- of GDP · +13.1 pt since 2020
- Current account · 2025
- +2.0 %
- of GDP · +5.3 pt since 2020
Fiscal balance, % of GDP
Negative: a deficit · dashed: estimates and projections
- West Africa
- 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
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook (October 2026)
Questions
How much has the economy of West Africa grown since 2020?
West Africa: GDP of 722.6 bn$ in 2025 (IMF), −17.0 % since 2020 in current dollars. Growth in 2025: +4.8 %.
What is the GDP per capita of West Africa?
1,563 $ in 2025 at market exchange rates, 7,463 $ in purchasing power parity (IMF).
What is the inflation rate in West Africa?
16.6 % in 2025, average annual change in consumer prices (IMF).
What is the public debt of West Africa?
49.0 % of GDP in 2025, gross debt of the general government (IMF).
Discussion
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Open the discussion →Cite this page
Syli Atlas, « West Africa », https://dev.syliatlas.com/en/regions/west-africa. Data: IMF, World Economic Outlook (October 2026).