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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that Nigeria will be among the world’s top 10 contributors to global real GDP growth in 2026, with a contribution of 1.5 per cent.
According to the IMF’s projections, this marks a shift from previous years, when South Africa led Africa’s contribution to global growth, owing to its larger economy.
In recent years, Nigeria’s role has weakened due to currency instability, high inflation, and policy uncertainty.
The IMF said Nigeria’s improved outlook reflects recent economic reforms. These include exchange-rate adjustments, the removal of fuel subsidies, and efforts to stabilise public finances, supported by rising domestic demand.
The Fund forecasts that Nigeria’s real GDP will grow by 4.4 per cent in 2026, before easing slightly to 4.1 per cent in 2027.
Despite the positive outlook, several domestic challenges remain, including inflation, exchange-rate stability, real wages, employment, and purchasing power, all of which remain under pressure.
The IMF also noted that the projections are conditional and could change.
With 26.6% of global growth, China is projected to remain the largest contributor, followed by India at 17.0%.
Third place is held by the United States (9.9%).
In 2026, China and India are expected to account for 43.6% of global economic growth.
Other nations in the top ten are Saudi Arabia (1.7%), Vietnam (1.6%), Brazil (1.5%), Germany (0.9%), Indonesia (3.8%), and Turkey (2.2%).
