• World Bank raises 2025 growth forecasts for Benin, Mali, Burkina, Côte d’Ivoire
• Senegal and Niger see downgrades; Togo, Guinea-Bissau unchanged
• WAEMU growth fueled by domestic demand, falling inflation, key sectors

The World Bank revised its growth forecasts upward for four countries in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) in its latest "Africa's Pulse" report, published Tuesday, October 7, 2025. The upward projections cover Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

Forecasts Adjusted Upward for Key Economies

Côte d’Ivoire saw the most significant revision, with its economic growth forecast raised to 6.3%, up from a previous estimate of 5.8%. Benin's projection increased to 7.3% from 7.2%. Growth for Mali was adjusted to 4.9%, a slight rise from the previously anticipated 4.8%, while Burkina Faso's forecast improved to 4.7% from 4.3%.

In contrast, Senegal, which had the highest growth forecast in the zone at 7.9%, saw its projection downgraded to 6.4% amid tensions related to debt management. Niger also experienced a downward revision, with estimated growth falling to 6.5% from 7.1%.

Forecasts for Guinea-Bissau and Togo remained unchanged at 5.1% and 5%, respectively. The World Bank noted that the strong expansion of economic activity in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Niger is supporting WAEMU’s overall performance.

Strong Domestic Demand Drives WAEMU Activity

Economic activity across the WAEMU zone has remained robust in recent months, fueled by dynamic domestic demand and progress in several key sectors. These include market services, financial services, and construction and public works (BTP), along with a boost from various primary sectors.

For example, Côte d’Ivoire's extractive industries registered 68.3% growth between June 2024 and June 2025, according to the country’s National Statistics Agency. In Benin, growth accelerated to 7.6% in the second quarter of 2025, up from 6.7% in the same period a year earlier, driven mainly by agriculture, BTP, and trade.

The WAEMU's inflation rate has also fallen, with the regional central bank (BCEAO) reporting an estimated deflation of -0.9% last July. Inflation is projected to remain negative at -0.5% in September 2025 and -0.1% in October 2025, thanks to lower global food prices and sufficient cereal supplies in the Union's markets.

Former WAEMU Council of Ministers Chairman Adama Coulibaly anticipates the bloc's economic growth to reach 6.3% in 2025, driven by strong performance in the agricultural, extractive, and manufacturing sectors. This is slightly above the World Bank's overall forecast of 6.1% for the zone.

Despite the WAEMU's solid economic growth, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cautioned that per capita income gaps between member states continue to widen due to significant differences in growth rates. The IMF stressed that the prosperity of member nations will depend on progress in political cohesion, economic integration, and institutional strength. The Fund also suggested that creating a stabilization fund could support countries in crisis, provided debt risks are carefully managed.

Lydie Mobio