Slowest Growing and Shrinking Economies (2026)
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook·25 countries·Updated 2026
Not every economy is growing. These 25 countries face the weakest or most negative GDP growth rates in 2026 — many in outright contraction.
Qatar leads with real GDP growth (%) of -8.6%.
Iraq ranks #2 at -6.8%.
Iran, Islamic Rep. ranks #3 at -6.1%.
Bolivia ranks #4 at -3.3%.
Equatorial Guinea ranks #5 at -2.7%.
Bottom 25 Countries by Real GDP Growth (%)
| # | Country | Real GDP Growth (%) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Qatar | -8.6% | 2026 |
| 2 |  Iraq | -6.8% | 2026 |
| 3 |  Iran, Islamic Rep. | -6.1% | 2026 |
| 4 |  Bolivia | -3.3% | 2026 |
| 5 |  Equatorial Guinea | -2.7% | 2026 |
| 6 |  Haiti | -1.7% | 2026 |
| 7 |  Jamaica | -1.2% | 2026 |
| 8 |  Kuwait | -0.6% | 2026 |
| 9 |  Bahrain | -0.5% | 2026 |
| 10 |  Liechtenstein | -0.4% | 2026 |
| 11 |  Puerto Rico (US) | -0.1% | 2026 |
| 12 |  Mozambique | 0.5% | 2026 |
| 13 |  Yemen, Rep. | 0.5% | 2026 |
| 14 |  Italy | 0.5% | 2026 |
| 15 |  Slovak Republic | 0.6% | 2026 |
| 16 |  Austria | 0.7% | 2026 |
| 17 |  Micronesia, Fed. Sts. | 0.7% | 2026 |
| 18 |  Belgium | 0.7% | 2026 |
| 19 |  Romania | 0.7% | 2026 |
| 20 |  Sudan | 0.7% | 2026 |
| 21 |  Japan | 0.7% | 2026 |
| 22 |  Germany | 0.8% | 2026 |
| 23 |  United Kingdom | 0.8% | 2026 |
| 24 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 0.8% | 2026 |
| 25 |  France | 0.9% | 2026 |
Data from 192 countries is available. View full rankings →
FAQ
What is the lowest real GDP growth (%) in 2026?
Qatar has the lowest real GDP growth (%) at -8.6% in 2026.
How many countries are included in this ranking?
This article features the bottom 25 countries out of 192 with available data. Full rankings available on the indicator page.
Where does this data come from?
Data is sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook. It is updated regularly as new releases become available.