World Economic Forum Survey Ranks India as Strongest Global Growth Outlook

Key facts

• The World Economic Forum (WEF) September Chief Economists' Outlook found 98% of surveyed economists expect India to record moderate or stronger growth over the next 12 months, with 74% expecting strong or very strong growth, up from 52% in the May survey.
• The WEF identified India as having the strongest growth outlook among all geographies covered, supported by resilient domestic demand, and raised its GDP growth forecast for fiscal 2026-27 to 6.7% in August.
• About one-third of economists expect weak growth for China, while Europe remains the weakest region with 61% of respondents anticipating weak or very weak growth.
• 56% of chief economists expect the global economic outlook to remain stable or improve, compared with only 11% in May, when 89% had expected conditions to deteriorate.
• Geopolitical conflicts were cited by 97% of respondents as a likely source of uncertainty, and 58% expect asset-price corrections.
• India's ranking on favourable business environments slipped to fourth from second, with only 40% of respondents including India among their top three destinations for multinational companies, down from 56% previously.
• The survey was conducted before official data showed India's economy grew 7.8% in the April-June quarter, prompting several forecasters to raise growth estimates.