Annual Report · April 2026
The World in
Numbers
218 countries. 440+ indicators. One report.
This is the global economy in 2026 — every number that matters, from GDP to CO₂, inequality to innovation.
$123T
World GDP
8.12B
People
8.7%
Avg Inflation
73.8
Avg Life Expectancy
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Chapter 1
The $123 Trillion Economy
Global GDP and the concentration of economic power
The global economy in 2026 is worth over $123 trillion — an almost incomprehensible sum that, if divided equally, would give every person on Earth roughly $15,097. But the world's wealth is anything but equally distributed. Just two countries — the United States and China — account for 43% of all economic output. The top 10 economies produce 67% of everything. The remaining 182 nations share what's left.
Rest of world (182 countries)
$40.38T · 32.9%
If the entire world's GDP were compressed into a single day, the United States would earn its share by 7:24 AM. The bottom 100 countries combined wouldn't start until 11 PM.
US Economy
$31.82T
+3.8% from last year
China Economy
$20.65T
16.8% of world GDP
Median GDP/capita
$8,378
Half of countries are below this
Chapter 2
The Growth Race
Who's sprinting, who's crawling, and who's going backwards
Economic growth is the engine of development — and in 2026, that engine runs at wildly different speeds. The fastest-growing economy, Guyana, is expanding at 23.0% per year. At that rate, its economy would double in just 3 years. Meanwhile, Lebanon sits at the bottom with -7.5% growth — an economy in contraction.
Fastest Growing
Shrinking Economies
Guyana's economy is growing 3x faster than Lebanon's is shrinking. At their current trajectories, their economic fortunes will diverge by billions within a decade.
Chapter 3
Rich vs. Poor
GDP per capita: from $246,738 to $369
The gap between the world's richest and poorest countries is staggering. A person born in Liechtenstein has access to an economy that produces $246,738 per person per year. Someone born in South Sudan — just a flight away — lives in an economy producing $369. That's a 669x difference. The median country produces $8,378 per person — meaning half the world's nations fall below even that.
669x
gap between richest and poorest per capita
Liechtenstein
$246,738
per person / year
South Sudan
$369
per person / year
Richest per Person (Nominal)
$246,738
$154,115
$135,247
$118,173
$108,591
$99,042
$96,580
$92,883
$82,706
$77,881
Poorest per Person
192
South Sudan
$369South Sudan191
Yemen, Rep.
$401Yemen, Rep.190
Afghanistan
$417Afghanistan189
Burundi
$618Burundi$651
187
Madagascar
$653Madagascar186
Mozambique
$720Mozambique185
Malawi
$721Malawi184
Sudan
$763Sudan$798
What about purchasing power?
Nominal GDP per capita doesn't account for local prices. Adjusted for purchasing power (PPP), the rankings shift. A dollar goes much further in some countries than others.
Liechtenstein
$206,120
Singapore
$161,546
Luxembourg
$155,275
Ireland
$150,865
Macao SAR, China
$136,809
A worker in Liechtenstein earns in 3 days what a worker in South Sudan earns in an entire year.
Chapter 4
8.1 Billion and Counting
Population, demographics, and the aging challenge
The world now holds 8.12 billion people — and the distribution is remarkably uneven. India and China together account for over a third of all humans. But the story of 2026 is not just about size — it's about age. Some nations are getting younger fast, while others face demographic crises with shrinking workforces and aging populations that threaten to reshape their economies within a generation.
Most Populated Countries
The Aging World: Countries with the most people 65+
Monaco
36.2%
aged 65+
Japan
29.8%
aged 65+
Puerto Rico (US)
24.7%
aged 65+
Italy
24.6%
aged 65+
Portugal
24.5%
aged 65+
Highest Fertility
6.1 births/woman
Somalia, Fed. Rep.
Lowest Fertility
0.6 births/woman
Macao SAR, China
Replacement Rate
2.1 births/woman
Needed to maintain population
10 countries now have fertility rates below replacement level (2.1). These nations face a future where there are more coffins than cribs.
Chapter 5
The Price of Everything
Where inflation is running hot — and where prices are falling
The global average inflation rate in 2026 is 8.7%. But that average hides enormous variation. In Venezuela, RB, prices are rising at 682% per year — meaning a basket of groceries that cost $100 a year ago now costs $782. Meanwhile, Afghanistan are experiencing deflation, where prices are actually falling.
Highest Inflation Rates
Lowest / Deflation
Global Average
8.7%
Weighted by number of countries
Highest
682%
Venezuela, RB
Countries in Deflation
1
Prices falling year-over-year
Chapter 6
Work & Wages
Unemployment, youth joblessness, and the labor market
In 2026, the global average unemployment rate sits at 6.4%. But behind that number are millions of personal stories — and the burden falls disproportionately on young people. Youth unemployment runs significantly higher in many countries, creating a generation locked out of opportunity and economic participation.
Highest Unemployment
Youth Unemployment Crisis (Ages 15-24)
In many countries, young people face unemployment rates 2-3x the national average. This isn't just an economic problem — it's a social time bomb.
Djibouti
76.8%
South Africa
59.9%
Eswatini
54.3%
Libya
50.1%
Botswana
46.0%
In Djibouti, 77% of young people who want to work cannot find a job. That means roughly 1 in 1 young workers is left idle.
Chapter 7
The Debt Mountain
Government debt as a percentage of GDP — who owes the most?
Governments around the world have borrowed trillions to fund wars, pandemics, and stimulus programs. Today, 21 countries have government debt exceeding 100% of their GDP — meaning they owe more than their entire economy produces in a year. At the top, Japan carries debt equal to 227% of GDP. The question isn't whether debt is good or bad — it's whether these countries can sustain it.
Fiscal Surplus vs Deficit
Not all debt is growing. Some countries run budget surpluses, paying down their borrowing.
Largest Surpluses
Kuwait+26.5%
Norway+10.7%
Nauru+9.5%
Macao SAR, China+5.6%
United Arab Emirates+4.8%
Largest Deficits
Timor-Leste-50.1%
Kiribati-16.8%
Bolivia-13.1%
Maldives-12.9%
Malawi-12.8%
21 countries owe more than their entire economic output. If every citizen of Japan worked for free for 2.3years, they still couldn't pay off the national debt.
Chapter 8
Life & Death
From 86 years in Monaco to 54 years in Nigeria
Where you're born still largely determines how long you'll live. A child born in Monaco in 2026 can expect to reach 86 years old. A child born in Nigeria — on the same day, on the same planet — can expect to live just 54 years. That's a 32-year gap. The difference isn't just healthcare — it's clean water, nutrition, conflict, and poverty working in combination.
32years gap
Monaco
86.4 yrs
Nigeria
54.5 yrs
Longest Life Expectancy
Shortest Life Expectancy
217
Nigeria
54.5 yrsNigeria216
Chad
55.1 yrsChad215
Lesotho
57.4 yrsLesotho57.4 yrs
213South Sudan
57.6 yrsSouth Sudan58.8 yrs
211
Mali
60.4 yrsMali210
Guinea
60.7 yrsGuinea209
Benin
60.8 yrsBenin208
Burkina Faso
61.1 yrsBurkina FasoThe Gender Gap: Women live longer everywhere
Longest-lived women
Monaco88.5 yrs
Hong Kong SAR, China88.1 yrs
Liechtenstein87.3 yrs
Japan87.1 yrs
San Marino87.1 yrs
Longest-lived men
Monaco84.4 yrs
San Marino84.2 yrs
Kuwait82.7 yrs
Hong Kong SAR, China82.5 yrs
Liechtenstein82.5 yrs
Highest Infant Mortality
1 per 1,000
San Marino
Lowest Infant Mortality
114.8 per 1,000
Niger
Avg Life Expectancy
73.8 years
Global average across all countries
A baby born today in Monaco will, on average, still be alive when a baby born in Nigeria would have already been dead for 32 years. Geography is still destiny.
Chapter 9
Planet Report
Carbon emissions, renewable energy, and the race to net zero
The climate crisis doesn't respect borders, but its causes are wildly uneven. The top CO₂ emitter per capita, Palau, pumps out 82.8 tonnes per person annually. Meanwhile, the countries contributing the least to emissions are often the most vulnerable to its effects. The good news: renewable energy is growing. Some countries already get over 90% of their energy from renewables. The question is whether the transition is happening fast enough.
Highest CO₂ per Capita (tonnes)
Most Renewable Energy (%)
Biggest Total Emitters (kilotonnes CO₂)
China
13,125
United States
4,632
India
3,154
Russian Federation
2,009
Japan
972
Still in the Dark: Lowest access to electricity
Hundreds of millions of people still live without reliable electricity.
South Sudan
5%
have electricity
Burundi
12%
have electricity
Chad
12%
have electricity
Malawi
16%
have electricity
Central African Republic
18%
have electricity
The top 5 CO₂ emitters produce more carbon than the remaining 198countries combined. Yet it's the lowest emitters — often island nations and sub-Saharan Africa — that face the worst consequences of a warming planet.
Chapter 10
The Digital World
Internet access, R&D spending, and the innovation economy
The internet has reshaped every aspect of modern life — but not everyone is online yet. While Bahrain leads with 100% internet penetration, Uganda sits at just 9%. The digital divide is shrinking, but it still mirrors the economic divide. Meanwhile, the countries investing most heavily in R&D are laying the groundwork for tomorrow's industries.
Highest Internet Penetration
Lowest Internet Penetration
185
Uganda
9%Uganda184Burundi
11%Burundi183Chad
13%Chad182
Ethiopia
17%Ethiopia181Burkina Faso
17%Burkina Faso180Afghanistan
18%Afghanistan179Malawi
18%Malawi178Mozambique
20%Mozambique177
Eritrea
20%Eritrea176Madagascar
20%MadagascarR&D Spending (% of GDP) — Investing in Tomorrow
Israel
6.02%
Liechtenstein
5.87%
Korea, Rep.
5.21%
United States
3.59%
Sweden
3.41%
Belgium
3.41%
Japan
3.41%
Switzerland
3.31%
Austria
3.20%
Germany
3.13%
Patent Applications (Residents) — The Innovation Pipeline
China
1.4M
United States
262,244
Japan
222,452
Korea, Rep.
186,245
Germany
39,822
Hong Kong SAR, China has 319 mobile subscriptions per 100 people — meaning there are more active phone lines than people. In Uganda, only 9% of the population has ever been online.
Chapter 11
Trade, Power & Security
Military spending, trade flows, and geopolitical muscle
Trade connects nations, but power divides them. In 2026, the world's economies are deeply intertwined — some countries trade goods and services worth over 300% of their GDP. At the same time, military spending continues to climb. United States alone spends $997.31B on defense — more than the next several countries combined.
Military Spending (USD)
Most Trade-Open Economies (Trade % of GDP)
360%
351%
341%
322%
246%
241%
218%
Highest Military Spending (% of GDP)
Most Visited Countries (International Tourist Arrivals)
France
117.1M
Poland
88.5M
Mexico
51.1M
United States
45.0M
Thailand
39.9M
United States's military budget alone exceeds the entire GDP of 171 countries. The world spends roughly $2 trillion on defense annually — enough to end extreme poverty several times over.
Chapter 12
The Inequality Gap
Income distribution, poverty, and who gets what
Inequality isn't just about rich countries vs poor countries — it's about who benefits within each country. The Gini Index measures this: 0 means perfect equality, 100 means one person holds all the wealth. The most unequal country, Colombia (Gini: 53.9), has a fundamentally different social contract than Slovak Republic (23.8). In the most unequal nations, the top 10% of earners capture over 40% of all income.
Most Unequal (Gini Index)
53.9
51.6
51.5
49.7
49.6
45.8
45.7
45.2
45.2
44.7
Income Share of the Top 10%
In the most concentrated economies, the richest 10% take nearly half of all income.
Colombia
42.7%
to top 10%
Mozambique
40.8%
to top 10%
Brazil
40.8%
to top 10%
Zambia
39.1%
to top 10%
Panama
37.6%
to top 10%
Extreme Poverty ($2.15/day)
The percentage of the population living on less than $2.15 a day — the World Bank's extreme poverty line.
Congo, Dem. Rep.
85.3%
Mozambique
81.4%
Burundi
74.2%
Zambia
71.7%
Central African Republic
71.6%
Women in Parliament (%)
Rwanda63.8%
Cuba55.7%
Nicaragua53.8%
Mexico50.2%
United Arab Emirates50.0%Health Spending per Capita (USD)
United States$13,473
Switzerland$11,784 Liechtenstein$11,495
Norway$8,296 Luxembourg$8,170In Colombia, the richest 10% earn 43% of all income. In Slovak Republic, the same top 10% earn less than 19%. Same planet, different worlds.
Methodology & Sources
This report was generated using live data from three authoritative sources. All values reflect the most recently available data point for each indicator and country, which may vary by 1-2 years depending on reporting schedules.
IMF World Economic Outlook
GDP, GDP growth, GDP per capita, inflation, unemployment, government debt, fiscal balance, current account, PPP estimates. Updated biannually (April & October).
World Bank WDI
Population, life expectancy, education, health, trade, environment, technology, infrastructure, poverty, inequality. Over 400 indicators, updated continuously.
WHO Global Health Observatory
Health expenditure, disease prevalence, mortality rates, immunization coverage, health workforce indicators. Updated annually.
Important Notes
- Coverage: 218 countries and territories tracked across 440+ indicators.
- Currency: All monetary values are in current US dollars unless otherwise stated.
- Rankings: Based on latest available data. Some indicators may reflect 2024 or 2025 values if 2026 data has not yet been published.
- Aggregates: Global averages are unweighted (each country counts equally) unless specifically noted.
- IMF GDP values: IMF reports GDP in billions of current international dollars.
Data is refreshed automatically. For the most up-to-date numbers, explore any indicator directly on statisticsoftheworld.com. Raw data is available via our free API.
This Is Just the Summary
Behind every number in this report are 218 country profiles, 440+ indicators, historical time series, interactive charts, and a free API. No login required. No paywall. Just data.
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