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• Benin
• Cabo Verde
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Congo, Republic of
• Cote d'Ivoire
• Equatorial Guinea

• Gabon
• Ghana
• Guinea-Bissau
• Liberia
• Mali
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone

Economic Overview: The AFW subregion is projected to accelerate from 4.4% in 2024 to 4.7% in 2026–27. Excluding Nigeria, the AFW subregion grew at a faster rate in 2024 (5.2%) and will continue growing at the same pace in 2026–27. Growth in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) is projected to remain invariant in 2025 at 6.1% and slightly decelerate to 5.9% in 2026–27. Strong expansion of economic activity in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Niger is supporting the WAEMU’s performance.

Development Challenges: Western and Central Africa is a region of tremendous potential, with a young and dynamic population, abundant natural resources, and a rich cultural heritage. However, it faces significant challenges. The region is home to about a quarter of the world’s extreme poor, and around 73% of its population now lives in countries affected by fragility, conflict, and violence. Of the 22 countries in AFW, 20 are eligible for International Development Association (IDA) assistance.

To keep pace with population growth, the continent must create 15 million jobs annually, yet current job creation falls far short. The challenge is especially acute in AFW, where over 90% of jobs are in the informal sector, and high-potential industries such as mining, energy, and commercial farming face a shortage of skilled workers, forcing businesses to import labor. Currently, 220 million people in AFW lack access to electricity, limiting opportunities for business, income generation, education, and health services. Despite progress, about 350 million people in Western and Central Africa—roughly two-thirds of the population—still lack access to the internet. Climate risks further threaten the region’s progress. Estimates suggest that adverse weather events—including heatwaves, floods, and droughts—could cause annual GDP losses of 2% to 19% by 2050, pushing millions more into poverty and exacerbating food insecurity.