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Region · west_africa

West Africa

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

600 800 1,000 1,200 2015 2020 2025 2030 West Africa 1,125.0 600 800 1,000 1,200 2015 2020 2025 2030
Chart data as a table
West Africa: GDP of 722.6 bn$ in 2025 (IMF), −17.0 % since 2020 in current dollars. Growth in 2025: +4.8 %.
Year West Africa
2015 890.9 bn$
2016 779.0 bn$
2017 756.4 bn$
2018 846.3 bn$
2019 927.2 bn$
2020 870.3 bn$
2021 914.9 bn$
2022 948.7 bn$
2023 823.7 bn$
2024 614.0 bn$
2025 · estimate 722.6 bn$
2026 · projection 825.9 bn$
2027 · projection 935.8 bn$
2028 · projection 985.7 bn$
2029 · projection 1,051 bn$
2030 · projection 1,125 bn$

The five regions

GDP in current dollars, 2020 → 2025

  1. 1 Central Africa +62.7 %
  2. 2 Southern Africa +41.6 %
  3. 3 East Africa +33.5 %
  4. 4 North Africa +23.6 %
  5. 5 West Africa −17.0 %

All indicators

Value in 2025 and change since 2020

All indicators
Indicator 20202025Change
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

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Member countries

GDP in current dollars, 2020 → 2025

  1. 1 Guinea +80.2 %
  2. 2 Cabo Verde +67.5 %
  3. 3 Ghana +63.8 %
  4. 4 Côte d'Ivoire +58.3 %
  5. 5 Benin +57.0 %
  6. 6 Burkina Faso +55.2 %
Compare West Africa → African ranking

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

−8 % −6 % −4 % −2 % 0 % 2015 2020 2025 2030 West Africa −2.8 Africa −3.9 −8 % −6 % −4 % −2 % 0 % 2015 2020 2025 2030
Chart data as a table
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).
Year West AfricaAfrica
2015 −2.9 % −5.7 %
2016 −3.6 % −6.0 %
2017 −3.7 % −5.0 %
2018 −3.4 % −3.6 %
2019 −3.6 % −4.1 %
2020 −5.4 % −6.7 %
2021 −5.1 % −4.8 %
2022 −5.4 % −3.8 %
2023 −4.0 % −4.4 %
2024 −3.6 % −5.4 %
2025 · estimate −2.5 % −5.0 %
2026 · projection −3.2 % −5.5 %
2027 · projection −3.0 % −5.0 %
2028 · projection −2.8 % −4.7 %
2029 · projection −2.8 % −4.2 %
2030 · projection −2.8 % −3.9 %
  • 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

−4 % −2 % 0 % 2 % 4 % 2015 2020 2025 2030 West Africa 1.3 −4 % −2 % 0 % 2 % 4 % 2015 2020 2025 2030
Chart data as a table
Current account balance of West Africa, % of GDP
Year West Africa
2015 −3.0 %
2016 −0.8 %
2017 +0.4 %
2018 −0.9 %
2019 −2.8 %
2020 −3.3 %
2021 −1.8 %
2022 −2.0 %
2023 −2.2 %
2024 +0.5 %
2025 · estimate +2.0 %
2026 · projection +2.5 %
2027 · projection +1.7 %
2028 · projection +1.1 %
2029 · projection +1.2 %
2030 · projection +1.3 %

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).

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Cite this page

Syli Atlas, « West Africa », https://dev.syliatlas.com/en/regions/west-africa. Data: IMF, World Economic Outlook (October 2026).