Fastest-Growing Economies in Africa
Several smaller African economies have experienced rapid GDP growth between 2023 and 2025. Topping the list is Burundi, with a remarkable +58.9% GDP growth, driven by economic reforms and improved political stability. Africa’s total GDP in 2025 is projected at $2.8 trillion by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Other notable fast-growing African countries include:
- Guinea: +32.3%
- Sierra Leone: +31.1%
- Niger: +30.1%
- Burkina Faso: +27.7%
Largest African Economies in 2025 (GDP Projections)
Despite economic challenges, several African powerhouses remain the largest economies on the continent based on the 2025 GDP projections (in USD billions):
- South Africa: $410.3B
- Egypt: $347.3B
- Algeria: $268.9B
- Nigeria: $188.3B
- Morocco: $165.8B
Read about 2024 GDP rankings of African countries in this post.
African Economies Projected to Decline
While growth dominates much of the continent, a few major African economies are projected to shrink in 2025:
- Nigeria: -48.3%
- Ethiopia: -26.5%
- Sudan: -14.8%
- Egypt: -11.8%
Challenges such as currency devaluation, political instability, and over-reliance on volatile sectors (like oil) contribute to these downturns. See the full list of Africa’s 2025 GDP below.
| Country | 2023 GDP | 2025 GDP | % Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 380.6 | 410.3 | 7.8 |
| 2 | Egypt | 393.8 | 347.3 | -11.8 |
| 3 | Algeria | 247.8 | 268.9 | 8.5 |
| 4 | Nigeria | 363.8 | 188.3 | -48.3 |
| 5 | Morocco | 144.4 | 165.8 | 14.8 |
| 6 | Kenya | 108.7 | 131.7 | 21.1 |
| 7 | Ethiopia | 159.8 | 117.5 | -26.5 |
| 8 | Angola | 109.8 | 113.3 | 3.3 |
| 9 | Côte d’Ivoire | 79.6 | 94.5 | 18.7 |
| 10 | Ghana | 80.5 | 88.3 | 9.7 |
| 11 | United Republic of Tanzania | 79.1 | 86 | 8.6 |
| 12 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 64.4 | 79.1 | 22.9 |
| 13 | Uganda | 51.9 | 64.3 | 23.8 |
| 14 | Tunisia | 48.5 | 56.3 | 16 |
| 15 | Cameroon | 49.3 | 56 | 13.7 |
| 16 | Libya | 44 | 47.5 | 8 |
| 17 | Zimbabwe | 35.1 | 38.2 | 8.6 |
| 18 | Senegal | 30.6 | 34.7 | 13.4 |
| 19 | Sudan | 37 | 31.5 | -14.8 |
| 20 | Guinea | 22.8 | 30.1 | 32.3 |
| 21 | Zambia | 27.6 | 28.9 | 4.8 |
| 22 | Burkina Faso | 21.2 | 27.1 | 27.7 |
| 23 | Mozambique | 21 | 23.8 | 13.4 |
| 24 | Mali | 21.2 | 23.2 | 9.6 |
| 25 | Benin | 19.7 | 22.2 | 13 |
| 26 | Niger | 16.8 | 21.9 | 30.1 |
| 27 | Gabon | 20.1 | 20.4 | 1.7 |
| 28 | Botswana | 19.4 | 19.4 | -0.1 |
| 29 | Chad | 18.3 | 18.8 | 2.4 |
| 30 | Madagascar | 15.9 | 18.7 | 17.9 |
| 31 | Mauritius | 14.1 | 15.5 | 9.9 |
| 32 | Congo | 14.2 | 15.3 | 7.8 |
| 33 | Rwanda | 14.3 | 14.8 | 3.1 |
| 34 | Namibia | 12.4 | 14.2 | 14.6 |
| 35 | Malawi | 13.4 | 14 | 3.9 |
| 36 | Somalia | 11 | 13 | 18.5 |
| 37 | Equatorial Guinea | 12.3 | 12.7 | 2.8 |
| 38 | Mauritania | 10.6 | 11.5 | 7.7 |
| 39 | Togo | 9.1 | 10 | 10.4 |
| 40 | Sierra Leone | 6.4 | 8.4 | 31.1 |
| 41 | Burundi | 4.2 | 6.7 | 58.9 |
| 42 | Eswatini | 4.9 | 5.5 | 12.9 |
| 43 | Liberia | 4.4 | 5.2 | 17.7 |
| 44 | Djibouti | 3.9 | 4.6 | 17.1 |
| 45 | Central African Republic | 2.6 | 2.9 | 12.7 |
| 46 | Cabo Verde | 2.6 | 2.8 | 7.7 |
| 47 | Gambia | 2.3 | 2.8 | 18.2 |
| 48 | Lesotho | 2.2 | 2.4 | 8.6 |
| 49 | Guinea-Bissau | 2 | 2.3 | 13.4 |
| 50 | Seychelles | 2.2 | 2.2 | 0.5 |
| 51 | Comoros | 1.3 | 1.5 | 16 |
| 52 | Sao Tome and Principe | 0.7 | 0.9 | 26.3 |
| 53 | Eritrea | NA | NA | NA |
| 54 | Western Sahara | NA | NA | NA |