(3 Minutes Read)
In the document, World Bank economists estimate that the average growth of African economies will accelerate to 3.5% this year and to around 4% in the next two years, in a context of great uncertainty, in which forecasts have high negative risks
The World Bank predicts in its latest Global Economic Prospects report that the growth of sub-Saharan African economies will accelerate from 3% in 2023 to 3.5% this year, a rate below the region’s growth needs.
After an acceleration of 3.6% in 2022, “growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) weakened to 3 percent in 2023″ and “growth in the region’s largest three economies—Nigeria, South Africa, Angola—remained weak”, reads the report’s Regional Highlights on SSA.
In the document, World Bank economists estimate that the average growth of African economies will accelerate to 3.5% this year and to around 4% in the next two years, in a context of great uncertainty, in which forecasts have high negative risks.
The document catalogued the downside risks. Those include increasing global geopolitical tensions, especially an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East; a further deterioration in regional political stability; increased frequency and intensity of adverse weather events; higher-than-expected inflation; a sharper-than-expected economic slowdown in China; and increased government debt distress, especially if elevated public debt cannot be stabilized or new sources of financing do not become available, the document points out.
Looking at the region’s three largest economies, the World Bank notes that “growth remained weak” but saw an increase in private sector activity earlier this year, driven by the strengthening global economy.
At the same time, it stresses, “many economies in the region continue to struggle with weak government balance sheets, stemming partly from low revenue collection and high debt-service costs, while some also need to manage the adverse effects of currency depreciations”.
Concerning Portuguese-speaking countries, the World Bank estimates that Angola will accelerate from 0.9% last year, to 2.9% this year and 2.6% and 2.4% in the following two years. Cape Verde is expected to maintain growth above 4.5% until 2026.
Guinea-Bissau is seen accelerating from 4.2% last year to 4.7% this year, maintaining a slight upward trajectory until 2026, the year in which it should register an economic expansion of 4.9%. Mozambique maintains a growth of 5% up until 2026, a year in which it should slow down to 4.4%.
Read Also:
https://trendsnafrica.com/world-bank-stops-funding-to-tourism-project-in-tanzania/
São Tomé and Príncipe, after last year’s 0.5% recession, should recover to 2.5% this year and 3 .1% and 2.6% in the following two years. Sustainability in negative territory is Equatorial Guinea, which is expected to record recessions of 4.3% this year and 3.3 and 3.6% in the following two years. Globally, the World Bank projects a growth of 2.6% this year, before accelerating to 2.7% over the next two years
