WEF Survey: India Named World's Strongest Growth Prospect for 2026–27

India has emerged as the world's strongest growth prospect, according to the World Economic Forum's September 2026 Chief Economists' Outlook, released on 22 September. The survey found that 74% of chief economists expect strong or very strong growth for India over the next 12 months, the highest confidence level among all regions covered, just ahead of South-East Asia at 73%.

Key Findings on WEF Survey Global Growth and India

1. Global sentiment has improved sharply—around 56% of chief economists now expect the world economy to stabilise or improve, a major turnaround from May 2026, when most anticipated weakening conditions.
2. Europe remains the weakest-performing region, with 61% of economists expecting weak growth there.
3. China also faces headwinds, with roughly one in three economists predicting weak growth for the country.

India's Economy Growth Rises From 74% to 52% in May

Confidence in India's economy has jumped noticeably compared to earlier readings, rising to 74% from just 52% in May. Overall, nearly all economists surveyed (98%) expect the Indian economy to grow at a moderate or stronger pace over the coming year, reflecting a broad consensus that momentum is building.

Household Incomes and Employment Outlook Remain Positive

The optimism isn't limited to overall GDP numbers. About 62% of economists expect inflation-adjusted household incomes in India to rise over the next year, with a small share predicting a sharp increase, a trend seen in few other regions, most of which expect incomes to stagnate or fall.

On jobs, expectations are largely steady: around 70% of respondents see India's unemployment rate staying unchanged over the next year, while only 17% expect it to worsen. Inflation expectations have also cooled since May, with 55% of economists now expecting moderate price rises rather than high inflation.

Only 40% of Respondents Rank India Among Top Business Destinations

Despite the strong growth story, India's appeal as an investment destination has weakened. The country slipped from second to fourth place in the survey's ranking of favourable business environments for multinational companies. Just 40% of respondents placed India among their top three destinations, a sharp fall from 56% in the previous survey round.

Technology and Cost of Living Pressures

1. Around 97% of chief economists expect wider AI adoption to boost productivity, but 79% also foresee local community pushback against data-centre expansion, partly due to its impact on electricity and water prices.
2. Rising costs for food (88%) and electricity (83%) are expected to strain household budgets across most regions India and South-East Asia stand out as exceptions, where real incomes are still projected to grow.

About the Chief Economists' Outlook

The WEF's Chief Economists' Outlook is a periodic survey gathering views from senior economists across the public and private sectors on global and regional economic trends. This edition was conducted between 4 and 20 August 2026. Globally, sentiment has also improved, with geopolitical conflict identified by 97% of respondents as the biggest ongoing risk.