The East African Community (EAC) recorded an impressive 5.4% economic growth in 2024, solidifying its position as one of Africa’s fastest-growing regional blocs, according to a new report.
This surge reflects the bloc’s resilience amid global inflation, rising debt, and supply chain disruptions, powered by increasing intra-regional trade, major infrastructure projects, and a rebound in key sectors such as agriculture, services, and manufacturing.
The EAC, an intergovernmental organization of seven countries, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, continues to gain strategic importance across the continent.
With a combined market of over 300 million people, the bloc has been praised as Africa’s integration lighthouse for its policy harmonization, removal of non-tariff barriers, and success in attracting investment.
Despite facing challenges like political instability, infrastructure gaps, and bureaucratic delays, the EAC has demonstrated determination in building a collective and durable economic path.
The October 2024 Economic Survey by the Kenyan National Bureau of Statistics initially reported a 4.7% growth rate for the EAC, with projections of 5.7% growth in 2025–2026.
However, the latest review, factoring in data from the fourth quarter of 2024, revised the 2024 figure upward to 5.4%.
Between the first and third quarters of the year, the standout contributors to the region’s performance were Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, with Kenya’s economy projected to grow by 5% in 2024 and 5.1% through 2025–2026.
Based on the updated data, here are the top five EAC countries by real GDP growth in 2024:
— 1. Rwanda — 7.0%
— 2. Tanzania — 6.1%
— 3. Burundi — 6.0%
— 4. Uganda — 5.7%
— 5. Democratic Republic of Congo — 4.7%
These numbers underscore the EAC’s growing influence within Africa, as it outpaces other sub-regions by focusing on coordinated economic policies, regional trade facilitation, and the continuous implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol.
Analysts believe that while hurdles remain, the bloc’s collective strength offers a model of resilience for the continent’s broader economic future.
