-
Emerging markets and developing economies are projected to lead global expansion at 3.7 percent growth in 2026.
-
India tops the global growth leaderboard among major economies with a projected 7.0 percent expansion.
-
Nigeria ranks third on the selected country list, expected to grow by 4.2 percent.
-
Saudi Arabia records the steepest projected economic contraction at negative 3.3 percent.
October 15, (THEWILL) – Emerging markets continue to outperform developed nations in driving world economic expansion, according to the International Monetary Fund’s October Outlook figures released by data analytics firm StatiSense.
Overall global economic growth is projected at 3.1 percent for 2026. Emerging markets and developing economies are forecast to expand by 3.7 percent, comfortably outpacing advanced economies, which are expected to average 2.1 percent
The 2026 Global GDP Growth Leaderboard
Here is how major global economies rank based on their projected gross domestic product growth for 2026:
- India: 7.0%
- China: 4.5%
- Nigeria: 4.2%
- Spain: 2.5%
- United States: 2.3%
- Brazil: 2.2%
- Germany: 1.3%
- United Kingdom: 1.3%
- Canada: 1.1%
- South Africa: 1.0%
- Russia: 0.9%
- Italy: 0.8%
- Japan: 0.7%
- France: 0.4%
- Mexico: -1.5%
- Saudi Arabia: -3.3%
READ ALSO:
Key Trends Driving the 2026 Projections
Asian and African developing nations occupy the top tier of the rankings. India leads all selected countries at 7.0 percent growth, followed by China at 4.5 percent and Nigeria at 4.2 percent.
Spain leads advanced European economies at 2.5 percent, outperforming the United States at 2.3 percent, Germany at 1.3 percent, and the United Kingdom at 1.3 percent.
At the bottom of the spectrum, Mexico and Saudi Arabia face economic headwinds, with projected contractions of 1.5 percent and 3.3 percent respectively.
Joy Onuorah is a business journalist and brand communications specialist covering financial markets, artificial intelligence, digital economy, and the ideas reshaping business across Africa and the global market. Beyond her reporting for TheWill, Joy uses brand strategy, storytelling, copywriting, and high-value SEO to help brands build lasting market authority.
