AI Boom On Track To Supply USD 1 T GDP Boost In Africa

Artificial intelligence could add USD 1 T to Africa’s economy by 2035, the African Development Bank (AfDB) estimates, but it warned the continent must urgently develop data infrastructure, skills, and regulation to capture the potential gains.

The projection, outlined in a new bank-commissioned report, equates to nearly a third of Africa’s current annual economic output. The benefits, however, are expected to be concentrated in a handful of sectors, including agriculture, retail, and manufacturing.

“The Bank is ready to release investment to support these actions,” said Nicholas Williams, an AfDB ICT operations manager. “We expect the private sector and the government to utilise this investment.”

The report, produced by consulting firm Bazara Tech, identified five key areas where AI could drive growth: agriculture, wholesale and retail, manufacturing, financial services, and healthcare. Together, these sectors could account for about USD 580 B of the projected USD 1 T gain.

Achieving this, the bank said, depends on improving five fundamental “enablers”: the availability of reliable data, sufficient computing power, a skilled workforce, trustworthy governance frameworks, and adequate capital.

“Africa’s challenge is no longer what to do; it is doing it on time,” said Ousmane Fall, the AfDB’s Director of Industrial and Trade Development.

The report asserts that reliable and interoperable data forms the foundation for AI insights, while scalable compute infrastructure ensures solutions can be deployed efficiently across the continent.

It notes that a skilled workforce is essential to develop, implement, and maintain AI systems, and trust—built through governance, and regulatory frameworks—underpins adoption. The report also notes that the enablers, together with adequate capital investment  to de-risk innovation and accelerate deployment,  would “foster a cycle of AI-driven growth.”

The AfDB, Africa’s premier development finance institution, proposed a three-phase roadmap from 2025 to 2035 to build the necessary infrastructure and regulations to support widespread AI adoption.