The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised Nigeria’s economic growth forecast for 2026 upward to 4.4%, up from its previous projection of 4.2%.
The adjustment was published in the IMF’s January 2026 World Economic Outlook update and officially unveiled on Monday.
According to the IMF, the upward revision reflects gradual economic strengthening across Sub-Saharan Africa rather than being an isolated adjustment for Nigeria.
Nigeria’s revised growth projection follows a period of major economic adjustments, marked by policy reforms and efforts to stabilise the macroeconomic environment.
In its October 2025 outlook, the IMF had expressed concerns over inflationary pressures, fiscal constraints, and structural weaknesses in the Nigerian economy.
However, the Fund noted that policymakers have since continued reforms aimed at strengthening fiscal coordination, restoring macroeconomic balance, and improving productivity in key sectors.
The IMF again stressed the importance of structural reforms in driving sustainable growth in emerging and developing economies, including Nigeria.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, regional growth was revised upward from 4.0% to 4.1% for 2025, and from 4.3% to 4.4% for 2026, signalling a broadly shared recovery trend.
Globally, the Fund projects economic growth of 3.3% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027, largely in line with the estimated 3.3% growth recorded in 2025.
It said the outlook reflects a balance between headwinds from shifting trade policies and tailwinds from technology-driven investments, including artificial intelligence, alongside accommodative financial conditions.
The IMF also projected that global inflation will continue to ease, with headline inflation expected to decline from 4.1% in 2025 to 3.8% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027.
