The fastest-growing country by GDP is often Guyana, driven by massive offshore oil discoveries, with projections for 2026 showing exceptional growth, alongside South Sudan, rebounding from conflict and oil disruptions, while Niger and Somalia lead in population growth. Economic growth figures fluctuate yearly, but Guyana's oil boom and South Sudan's recovery consistently place them at the top for economic expansion in recent forecasts, while African nations dominate population growth.
1. Guyana: 22.4% Guyana's GDP growth will be the fastest in the world in 2026 according to our Consensus Forecast, as has been the case in recent years.
Here's a recent chart from Visual Capitalist, based on IMF projections for 2025, showing the countries expected to record the highest GDP growth this year. South Sudan leads the list at 27%, driven largely by oil output recovery, followed by Guyana and Libya.
The UK is forecast to be the third fastest growing economy in the G7 next year, behind only the US and Canada, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as global growth remains resilient despite trade tensions.
As a result, six of the seven largest economies in the world are projected to be emerging economies in 2050 led by China (1st), India (2nd) and Indonesia (4th) The US could be down to third place in the global GDP rankings while the EU27's share of world GDP could fall below 10% by 2050.
Kiribati (specifically its Line Islands, like Kiritimati) is the first nation to greet the New Year 2025, followed closely by Samoa and Tonga, due to their location just west of the International Date Line and use of UTC+14 time zones. These Pacific island nations welcome January 1st earlier than anywhere else in the world.
South Sudan is the poorest country in the world in 2025, with a $251 GDP per capita. More startlingly, India makes the list as well. It's the 50th poorest by GDP per capita ($2,878), a rare case of a top-five economy by GDP having low levels of individual productivity.
🌍 Most Developed Countries in the World (2025) 🏆 The Human Development Index (HDI) measures life expectancy, education, and income — and these countries are leading the way: 1️⃣ Switzerland 🇨🇭 – Consistently ranked #1 for quality of life and innovation. 2️⃣ Norway 🇳🇴 – Known for its strong welfare system and equality.
Which country has the strongest economy right now?
United States. The US has held the position of the world's strongest economy since 1871, after surpassing the UK at the time. The US dollar (USD) is one of the strongest currencies in the world and the most popular currency to trade overall.
Explore the top 5 emerging markets: China, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, and Georgia. Learn about their growth potential, market entry considerations, and the importance of localization for your brand's success. Discover higher growth rates and new opportunities in these regions.
The report primarily uses data from the Gallup World Poll. As of March 2025, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for eight years in a row.
For stability and economic strength, Switzerland and Canada consistently top global rankings. Beyond money, factors like climate resilience, political stability, and healthcare access also matter. Choosing the right country is personal, but having the right data makes all the difference.
While public opinion polls show growing support in Britain for rejoining the EU, with more wanting to rejoin than stay out, the current UK government, led by Labour, has firmly stated it will not seek to rejoin, the single market, or the customs union, instead focusing on a "strategic partnership" to improve relations. The government emphasizes making the current post-Brexit relationship work, despite acknowledging benefits like potential trade deals, but remains committed to staying outside the EU bloc, a position supported by the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who rules out rejoining.
Surveys in 2017 and 2019 of existing academic research found that the credible estimates ranged between GDP losses of 1.2–4.5% for the UK, and a cost of between 1 and 10% of the UK's income per capita. These estimates varied depending on whether the UK left via a 'hard' or 'soft' Brexit.
