Iran War to Exact High Cost on African Economy, World Bank Warns

A worker pushes a cart past market stalls in Nairobi, Kenya.

Photographer: Patrick Meinhardt/Bloomberg

The Iran war will fan inflation and cost Africa vital economic growth, the World Bank warned, with oil-importing nations including Kenya and Ethiopia potentially at the greatest risk.

The Washington-based lender cut its 2026 economic growth forecast for the region by 0.3 percentage points to 4.1%, the same pace as last year, in a report on Wednesday. Inflation was seen rising 4.8% versus 3.8% previously expected.