The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has updated its forecasts and projections on global wealth measured by GDP, at current prices (in dollars). In Africa, by 2026, the ranking of the richest countries on the continent should experience upheavals.

Based on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) indicator at current prices expressed in dollars, i.e. the quantification of the total value of the annual "wealth production" carried out by economic agents residing within a country, significant changes will be made to the top 10 richest countries in Africa, compared to 2019 data, before the Covid-19 pandemic crisis.

Overall, the projected ranking for 2026 gives an essential place to large populated countries with significant natural resources (oil, minerals, etc.) and countries that have focused on agriculture and economic diversification.
The 10 African countries that will have the highest GDP on the continent will have a cumulative GDP of 2.877 billion dollars in 2026, against 1.739 billion dollars in 2020, an increase of 65.44%.

Nigeria will be the richest country in Africa in terms of GDP. The first power will more than double its GDP over the next 6 years, increasing its wealth from 429 billion dollars in 2020 to 964 billion dollars in 2026, according to IMF projections.

It will be followed by Egypt whose GDP of the country should increase, according to IMF projections, from 362 billion dollars in 2020 to 603 billion in 2026, an increase of 66.60%. Then comes South Africa, whose economic decline began under the reign of former President Jacob Zuma.

The country will also see its GDP grow significantly from $302 billion to $407 billion over the 2020-2026 period. It will experience less progress than the first two economic powers of the continent because of the depth of the crisis it is going through.