Nach einer zweijährigen Rezession verzeichnete Österreich 2025 ein moderates Wirtschaftswachstum von 0,7 %. Der Start in das Jahr 2026 verlief positiv. Der am 28. Februar ausgebrochene Nahost- Krieg und die in Folge gestiegenen Energiepreise bringen jedoch erneut große Unsicherheit mit sich...

The new administration has initiated a series of important policy reforms, but sluggish growth, heightened inflationary pressures, and insufficient investment continue to undermine living standards. The newly elected administration has initiated important policy reforms to support macroeconomic...

Growth is projected to slow to 1.6 percent in 2026 before edging up to about 2.3 percent in 2027 as global and domestic demand conditions stabilize while foreign direct investment (FDI) in new industries begins to materialize. Thailand’s 2025 downturn has brought long-standing structural...

The Country Opinion Survey in Saint Lucia assists the World Bank Group (WBG) in better understanding how stakeholders in Saint Lucia perceive the WBG. It provides the WBG with systematic feedback from national and local governments, multilateral/bilateral agencies, media, academia, the private...

Since Russia launched its full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022, the European Union (EU) has pursued its enlargement policy as part of a geopolitical approach. According to the European Commission and candidate states, the EU could admit new members from 2028 onwards, while...

In fragile states such as the Central African Republic, where conflict and institutional fragility severely constrain traditional data collection, mapping multidimensional vulnerability and potential deprivation poses a significant challenge for designing targeted interventions. This paper...

Cameroon has made significant progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in recent decades, however, significant opportunities for improvement remain. Between 2000 and 2021, the country’s UHC Service Coverage Index doubled from 22 to 441. Yet Cameroon lags behind the average...

Austria's economy is recovering over the projection period from a recession that, according to the revised National Accounts, proved comparably severe to Germany's. The rebound is driven by private consumption, while foreign trade in goods continues to contract for the time being. Residential...

Russia’s war in Ukraine continues unabated, despite international efforts to broker a peace settlement. Nearly four years of full-scale war have taken a staggering social, humanitarian, and economic toll, with real GDP in 2025 estimated at about 20 percent below pre-war levels. The authorities...

Malaysia’s economy has shown notable resilience against global trade tensions and policy uncertainty, supported by strong domestic demand, a global tech-sector upcycle, and sound economic policies. Given the heightened global uncertainty, policy discussions centered on how Malaysia can sustain...

The economy of Cabo Verde has been growing at a fast pace over the last four years. The authorities have maintained macroeconomic stability and advanced reforms, though climate risks, SOE pressures, and global uncertainties remain. Economic growth is projected at 5.2 percent in 2025, following...

Kuwait has started the transition from an oil dependent welfare state towards a dynamic and diversified economy. Reform momentum has been building, starting with enactment of the Financing and Liquidity Law. Alongside a public investment scale-up, the authorities are working on wide-ranging...

Supportive external conditions and domestic policy tightening helped stabilize economic imbalances and the exchange rate (ER), though policies have eased recently. Stronger-than-expected activity in key partner countries boosted GDP growth in 2024−25:Q3, and, along with Chinese debt service...

The economy has been resilient through turbulence but remains scarred with large structural fiscal deficits, elevated and rising public debt, and a weak external position. Reducing vulnerabilities and imbalances against headwinds from long-term spending pressures and a deteriorated, more...

Despite headwinds from energy shortages and declining prices for key export commodities, the recovery gained further momentum in 2025, underpinned by robust domestic demand. After peaking in March, inflation steadily declined on the back of lower import prices and improved supply conditions....

Mozambique faces deep-rooted development challenges, including widespread poverty, regional insecurity, and high climate vulnerability. However, its natural resource sector holds promise of significant revenue for the country, which—if invested wisely—will allow it to address development...

This report summarizes the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) technical assistance mission to the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan (RMA), focused on reviewing and strengthening the fintech regulatory sandbox (RS) framework. The mission, conducted from August 25 to September 2, 2025, assessed...

Despite being buffeted by multiple shocks, the Chinese economy has shown remarkable resilience and continues to be a significant driver of global growth. China’s growth model, which has historically delivered impressive gains, now faces challenges. The protracted adjustment in the property...

Since the 2024 Art. IV consultation, the authorities have aimed to balance disinflation with steady growth. Following a fiscal expansion in 2024, the deficit was reduced substantially in 2025 and, despite policy rate cuts, real interest rates remain high. Inflation (31 percent y/y in December)...

Thailand’s economy has been resilient in an uncertain global economic environment. However, it faces salient structural challenges, cyclical headwinds and political uncertainty. GDP growth is projected to slow from 2.1 percent in 2025 to 1.6 percent in 2026, and inflation average -0.1 percent...

The re-elected government has laid out a bold reform agenda since taking office in May. Following a period of high inflation, the convergence of the economy toward balance is creating the opportunity to focus on ambitious structural reforms to address medium-term challenges. Delivering on the...

The first review of the ECF was delayed amid program slippages last year. The authorities exceeded the 2024 budget deficit by a sizable margin, and the BSL helped finance the overruns. At the same time, higher-than-expected government spending on imports and energy subsidies substantially...

Suriname is about to experience a significant oil boom. The task ahead needs to be to prepare a robust institutional framework that will harness this new wealth, spend it effectively, and ensure the livelihoods of the population are materially improved by it. Building on important achievements...

The German economy has been hit with large shocks in recent years, including an energy-price shock following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, rapid monetary tightening required to contain subsequent inflation, and heightened trade-related headwinds. These external shocks, together with weak...

Owing to its ample natural endowments, independent institutions, and strong monetary policy framework, South Africa’s economy has proven resilient to renewed global turbulence related to greater protectionism, fragmentation, and heightened policy uncertainty in 2025. However, long-standing...

Côte d’Ivoire’s economy continues to show resilience, supported by the restoration of fiscal and external buffers. The EFF/ECF-supported program approved in May 2023 (400 percent of quota) has largely eliminated macroeconomic imbalances and safeguarded a moderate risk of debt distress....

The Bahamas has been in the midst of a solid economic recovery, supported by buoyant tourism. This has created space to strengthen public finances, improve the institutional framework for fiscal policymaking, and invest in disaster risk management. Inflation has declined, supported by the peg...

Malta's economy has grown rapidly over the past decade, with per capita income nearly doubling since 2013. Growth averaged close to 7 percent annually, led by labor-intensive tourism, online gaming, and professional services, and was supported by inflows of foreign workers. Labor-driven growth...

The return to a secular decline in hydrocarbon production after a brief respite during the 2022 energy boom is again straining fiscal and external accounts. Boosting non-hydrocarbon growth is key to delivering a diversified, inclusive and balanced economy. Fund Management approved a 12-month...

Economic growth slowed to 6.3 percent in 2024 (compared to 6.8 percent in 2023), reflecting a sluggish extractive sector and is projected to slow further to 4.2 percent in 2025 due to an expected contraction in the extractive sector and a slowdown in the non-extractive sector. Inflation is...

For Poland, Russia’s war in Ukraine represented a major downward shock to output and upward shock to inflation. However, the strong real wage growth and fiscal stimulus of recent years have driven a nearly full closing of the output gap. In addition, inflation has returned to target due to...

Achieving middle-income status will require Bangladesh to restore lasting macroeconomic and financial stability and implement bold reforms to strengthen institutions and foster job creation, especially for youth. Persistently low fiscal revenues, weaknesses in the banking sector, stubbornly high...

Recovery is underway with improving fiscal balance, declining debt, and well-contained inflation, though FY2024 real GDP remained below pre-pandemic levels and the debt level is still high. The 2023 Compact Review Agreement (CRA-23) and a successful tax reform have provided Palau with additional...

Despite external and domestic shocks, Zambia has corrected macroeconomic imbalances, reached agreement on most of the external debt under the perimeter of the debt restructuring, and undertaken sustained fiscal consolidation while safeguarding social spending. Economic activity has expanded in...

In July 2024, the Board approved a four-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility to support the Ethiopian authorities’ Homegrown Economic Reform agenda (HGER), which aims to correct macroeconomic imbalances, restore external debt sustainability, and lay the foundations for high,...

Social conditions have improved significantly in the last decade, raising Bhutan’s living standards while inequality and poverty have declined. The economy has been recovering from the pandemic shock, but external imbalances remain and reserves are still below pre-pandemic levels. Growth is...

Kazakhstan’s economy is showing clear signs of overheating. After growing by around 5 percent in 2023 and 2024, the economy is expected to expand by 6.2 percent in 2025, fueled by rising oil production, a loose fiscal stance, expanding quasi-fiscal activities, and rapid consumer lending....