Economic growth is a critical component of a country’s development, fueling improvements in living conditions, infrastructure, and social welfare. However, some African countries have weak economic development prospects, which can have serious and far-reaching consequences.
Some African countries face a variety of problems that impede their economic growth possibilities. These issues include political instability, inadequate infrastructure, restricted access to education and healthcare, corruption, and reliance on commodity exports.
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Such constraints create a vicious cycle in which poor economic growth expectations worsen existing problems, worsening poverty and inequality.
According to the African Development Bank’s Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook (MEO) report, African countries have the world’s fastest-growing economies, indicating a different reality.
A more in-depth examination of Africa’s economic reality reveals that it is the world’s second fastest developing continent; but, given its diversity, with 54 countries, there are sections on the continent that are slow to catch up with the continent’s rapid growth.
With that said, here are the ten African countries with the lowest growth projections for 2024, according to the African Development Bank.
| Rank | Country | Growth projection 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Equatorial Guinea | -5.1% |
| 2. | Sudan | -1.7% |
| 3. | São Tomé and Príncipe | 0.9% |
| 4. | South Africa | 1.1% |
| 5. | Central African Republic | 2.0% |
| 6. | Tunisia | 2.1% |
| 7. | Gabon | 2.4% |
| 8. | Lesotho | 2.5% |
| 9. | Namibia | 2.6% |
| 10. | Ghana | 2.8% |