Issues Shaping Sub-Saharan Africa's Economic Future

The World Bank published in April 2017 its annual "Africa's Pulse: An Analysis of Issues Shaping Africa's Economic Future."

Economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to recover to 2.6 percent in 2017, following a marked deceleration in 2016. The upturn in economic activity is expected to continue in 2018 and 2019, reflecting improvements in commodity prices, a pickup in global growth, and more supportive domestic conditions.

The pace of the recovery is weak, however, as the region's three largest economies--Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa--are projected only a modest rebound in growth following a sharp slowdown in 2016. Among non-resource intensive countries, such as Ethiopia, Senegal, and Tanzania, growth is expected to remain generally solid, supported by domestic demand.