The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised Nigeria’s economic growth projection for 2026 upward to 4.4 per cent, reflecting a modest improvement in its outlook for Africa’s largest economy.
The new projection marks an increase from the 4.2 per cent growth rate earlier forecast by the global financial institution.
The upward revision was contained in the January 2026 update of the World Economic Outlook (WEO), released on Monday. The IMF, however, did not immediately provide detailed explanations for the adjustment in the brief update accompanying the report.
READ ALSO: Nigeria’s inflation to drop in 2025 amid economic reforms, says IMF
The World Economic Outlook is the IMF’s flagship publication, which assesses global economic trends and provides growth projections for individual countries and regions based on prevailing macroeconomic conditions, policy environments and external risks.
Nigeria’s revised growth outlook comes amid ongoing economic reforms, efforts to stabilise macroeconomic indicators, and attempts to address structural challenges facing the economy.
Analysts note that IMF projections are often influenced by assumptions around fiscal policy, monetary stability, oil sector performance and global economic conditions.
Further details on the factors behind the improved forecast are expected to emerge when the IMF releases the full analytical breakdown of the report.