By By: Staff Writer
Monrovia – Liberia’s economy is forecast to grow by 5.1% in 2026, matching its 2025 rate and exceeding the projected average for Sub-Saharan Africa, according to new data from the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook database released in April 2026.
The IMF’s latest regional economic forecast projects Liberia’s real GDP growth will hold steady at 5.1% this year before accelerating slightly to 5.4% in 2027. That puts the country above the Sub-Saharan Africa regional averages of 4.3% for 2026 and 4.4% for 2027.
*Regional Comparison*
Liberia’s 5.1% forecast for 2026 places it ahead of several larger regional economies. Nigeria is projected at 4.1%, Ghana at 4.8%, and South Africa at 1.0% for the same period.
Among the Mano River Union countries, Liberia trails Sierra Leone’s 4.5% and Guinea’s 8.7% for 2026, but remains ahead of Côte d’Ivoire’s 6.2% by less than the regional leaders. Top performers in the region include Ethiopia at 9.2%, Guinea at 8.7%, and Rwanda at 7.2%.
The data shows Liberia maintaining consistent growth momentum, avoiding the contraction forecast for Equatorial Guinea at -2.7% or the volatility seen in Botswana, which is expected to rebound from -0.9% in 2025 to 4.7% in 2026.
*Context*
The IMF did not provide country-specific analysis in the table, but the figures come as the Boakai administration pushes infrastructure and investment initiatives aimed at sustaining post-COVID recovery.
Growth at or above 5% is generally viewed by economists as necessary for meaningful poverty reduction in low-income economies. Liberia’s projected 5.4% growth in 2027 would be its strongest since before the Ebola and COVID shocks.
Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole is forecast to grow 4.3% in 2026, down from 4.5% in 2025, suggesting a slight regional slowdown that Liberia is expected to avoid.
The IMF noted that data for Eritrea were excluded due to constraints in data reporting.
