Ethiopia

Ethiopia is projected to match Cambodia's growth on the list with a GDP of 6.0% in 2026, yet it lags #9 Cambodia in recovering from recent instability. Africa's second-most populous nation (126 million people) fuels this expansion through agricultural modernization, boosting cereal yields by 8% annually, and industrial parks that exported $4.3 billion in 2025. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam—Africa's largest hydroelectric project at 6,000 MW—now covers 90% of domestic electricity needs, a capacity factor 25% higher than the typical African dam. However, reconstruction post-Tigray conflict (2020-2022) still strains public coffers, with reconstruction costs topping $5.6 billion. Addis Ababa's role as AU headquarters attracts diplomatic ties, yet private investment remains 30% below pre-war levels, tempering the nation's long-term sprint.