Upon examining the top 10 fastest-growing economies according to our Consensus forecasts, several common trends emerge.
Most nations will be in Africa—particularly sub-Saharan Africa—highlighting how a continent once synonymous in the West with poverty and famine is now increasingly a source of economic dynamism.
Only two will be in the Asia-Pacific and one in the Americas. Most nations in the top 10 remain poor in GDP per capita terms. This should come as no surprise, as fast GDP growth is easiest when a country’s stock of human and physical capital is low.
When looking at the key growth drivers across countries, one in particular stands out: Increased natural resource extraction, especially of hydrocarbons.
This driver underpins our panelists’ forecasts for Guyana and most of the African economies featured in the top ten. Recovery from armed conflict is another recurring theme: In South Sudan and Libya, economic fallout from recent conflicts has created a favorable base effect for 2025 GDP growth.
That said, the threat of future violence remains a key downside risk to the economic outlook for these and several other countries in this list.
Most nations will be in Africa—particularly sub-Saharan Africa—highlighting how a continent once synonymous in the West with poverty and famine is now increasingly a source of economic dynamism.
Only two will be in the Asia-Pacific and one in the Americas. Most nations in the top 10 remain poor in GDP per capita terms. This should come as no surprise, as fast GDP growth is easiest when a country’s stock of human and physical capital is low.
When looking at the key growth drivers across countries, one in particular stands out: Increased natural resource extraction, especially of hydrocarbons.
This driver underpins our panelists’ forecasts for Guyana and most of the African economies featured in the top ten. Recovery from armed conflict is another recurring theme: In South Sudan and Libya, economic fallout from recent conflicts has created a favorable base effect for 2025 GDP growth.
That said, the threat of future violence remains a key downside risk to the economic outlook for these and several other countries in this list.
