Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is now giving birth to more babies each year than all of Europe plus Russia combined, a milestone that reflects profound global demographic change.

New projections made about Africa’s economic story in 2026 are based on nominal GDP estimates that place a familiar group of countries at the top, but the deeper story lies in why these economies are leading and what it signals about Africa’s future growth path.

Most people would assume this isn’t even a question worth asking. Condoms are sold in supermarkets, pharmacies, corner shops and vending machines across much of the world.

Since the 11 September 2001 attacks, US air power has been used repeatedly across multiple regions under both Republican and Democratic administrations. The map summarises where airstrikes, drone strikes or missile attacks were carried out, but the underlying record shows continuity rather than exception.

In some regions, unresolved conflicts are solidifying into prolonged humanitarian emergencies, while in others, long-standing tensions are at risk of flaring up again under political pressure or regional strain.

Recent figures show that countries such as Spain, France, and the Netherlands are now among some of Nigeria’s most important export destinations, reflecting shifts in global energy demand, geopolitical pressures, and the search for more stable supply routes.

The world’s demographic map is changing rapidly, and the shift is most visible in Africa. Several African countries are set to experience extraordinary population growth by 2050, while other regions of the world will expand more slowly or even begin to decline.

With the abundance of several fun social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X and Facebook, it is inevitable that a huge section of the world’s population will stay glued to their screens.

While the rest of the world contributes 50% to global death rates, only six countries produce the other half according to the UN Population Prospects.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its latest projections for the largest economies in Africa for 2024.