A World Bank Data-Driven Analysis of Income, Investment, and Sectoral Change in ECOWAS Economies (2000–2024)

This study examines long-term economic development and structural transformation across twelve West African economies, Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo over the period 2000–2024 using har-monized World Bank indicators. The analysis combines income dynamics, growth performance, macroeconomic stability, investment, trade openness, foreign direct investment (FDI), and sectoral value-added shares to provide a comprehensive, comparative assessment of development trajecto-ries in the region. Results reveal persistent income divergence and slow convergence. Real GDP per capita (constant 2015 US$) remains highest in Cabo Verde (long-run mean ≈ US$3,200), fol-lowed by Nigeria (≈ US$2,190) and Ghana (≈ US$1,560), while Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, and Togo consistently remain below US$750. Growth outcomes are heterogeneous: Ghana records the high-est mean growth rate (≈5.6%), whereas Benin and Senegal combine moderate growth with the lowest volatility, indicating stronger macroeconomic resilience. In contrast, Liberia and Cabo Verde experience extreme fluctuations, with growth ranging from contractions below −20% to ex-pansions exceeding 25%. Macroeconomic conditions further differentiate countries. Inflation re-mains low and stable in Senegal, Cabo Verde, Benin, and Togo (generally