Angola has regained its status as the third-largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the International Monetary Fund’s latest 2026 economic outlook report, authorities disclosed on Tuesday, May 19.
The IMF revised Angola’s projected GDP growth for 2026 upward to 2.3%, from an earlier estimate of 2.1%. The report places Angola’s real GDP at 152.35 billion dollars, behind South Africa with 479.96 billion dollars and Nigeria with 377.37 billion dollars.
Angola now ranks ahead of Kenya, whose GDP stands at 147.26 billion dollars, as well as Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania. Despite the improved ranking, the IMF cautioned that Angola’s economic growth remains below its population growth rate of about 3.5%, leading to declining per capita income.
The report also projected Angola’s 2025 GDP at 128.3 billion dollars, with real growth of 3.13%. Growth in the non-oil sector, estimated at 5.11%, helped offset a 5.23% decline in the oil sector.