Côte d’Ivoire Emerges As West Africa Growth Leader, GDP To Hit $116.9bn

AfreximbankThe African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has rated Côte d’Ivoire as one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies and a leading regional trade hub in West Africa.

This is contained in its latest Côte d’Ivoire Country Brief released on Friday, October 31, 2026, in Cairo, Egypt.

According to the report, the country with 33.5 million people has sustained an average real GDP growth of 6.5% per year between 2021 and 2024, accelerating to an estimated 6.6% in 2025. Nominal GDP is forecast at $116.9 billion in 2027.

The brief projects growth to moderate to 5.8% in 2026 before rebounding to 6.2% in 2027, driven by rising crude production, infrastructure investment and resilient domestic demand.

Afreximbank noted a sharply improved macroeconomic environment, with inflation falling to just 0.1% in 2025 on easing commodity prices and government measures to stabilize fuel and food prices, while the CFA franc’s peg to the euro remains a durable anchor.

The fiscal deficit also narrowed to 3% of GDP in 2025, meeting the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) ceiling, supported by stronger revenue collection and VAT digitalisation reforms.

Advertisement

On trade, total trade surged from $26 billion in 2018 to $57 billion in 2025, anchored by Côte d’Ivoire’s status as the world’s largest cocoa producer with about 40% of global supply, plus exports of cashew nuts, rubber, gold and hydrocarbons. The February 2026 Calao South gas discovery and rising output from the Baleine field are expected to broaden its export base.

Strategically located on the Gulf of Guinea, with Abidjan and San Pedro ports as gateways into Francophone West Africa, African markets accounted for about 22% of its goods trade in 2025.

The report also highlights Côte d’Ivoire as holding the largest banking sector in UEMOA, accounting for over a third of regional banking assets, strengthened by Basel II and III reforms and the launch of BCEAO’s interoperable instant payment platform in September 2025.Afreximbank’s Group Chief Economist & Managing Director Research said:

“Côte d’Ivoire is consolidating its position as a leading West African growth and trade hub. Its expanding energy sector, world-class agricultural base, regional port infrastructure and increasingly sophisticated financial system offer a strong foundation to attract investment.

FOLLOW BIGPEN NIGERIA - Get Breaking News Alerts

📱

WhatsApp

f

Facebook

X

X