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World Economic Situation and Prospects: April 2025 Briefing, No. 189

Navigating through an inflationary world The current inflation landscape Inflation has once again become a central topic among academics, policymakers, and in the daily lives of citizens. For much of the past two decades, inflation remained relatively low and stable in most developed and developing economies, even as a few countries experienced high inflation amid economic and financial crises or macroeconomic mismanagement. Between 2000 and 2020, global inflation averaged 3.4 per cent, compared to 8.0 per cent in the 1980s and 7.1 per cent in the 1990s. Even in developing countries, where inflation is typically higher and more volatile, it followed a downward trend since the mid-1990s,…
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2025 CDP Report, ECOSOC and GA Resolutions

Report of the Committee for Development Policy (E/2025/33, Supplement No. 13)
عربي, 中文, English, Français, Русский, Español CDP excerpts on the report by theme New development contexts and pathways Convergence in human and social development Reviewing the framework for graduation from the least developed country category Enhanced monitoring of countries that are graduating or have graduated from the list of least developed countries ECOSOC resolution (E/RES/2025/2) on the Report of the Committee for Development Policy
عربي, 中文, English, Français, Русский, Español

2025 Monitoring Reports

Bangladesh Bangladesh Annual Country Report 2024 Bhutan Annual Report on Bhutan’s Smooth Transition Strategy (13th Five Year Plan) for Sustainable Graduation Cambodia Lao People's Democratic Republic Nepal Saõ Tomé and Príncipe Evaluation Report of the Graduation Process of São Tomé and Príncipe from the List of LDCs Senegal Rapport sur la Preparation de la Strategie de Sortie du Senegal de la Categorie des PMA Solomon Islands
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CDP Issue Brief No 1: Challenges to global trade growth in 2025

In the first number of the new CDP Issue Brief Series, Carlos Lopes looks at the challenges confronting global trade in 2025. The current trade landscape presents an increasingly complex and uncertain picture. A succession of shocks over the past 15 years has profoundly altered global trade dynamics, exposing vulnerabilities in supply chains, shifted policy priorities, and fueling geopolitical frictions. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated policy responses and a renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation to ensure inclusive economic growth.
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World Economic Situation and Prospects: March 2025 Briefing, No. 188

The outlook for international trade amid structural shifts and rising restrictions Trends and prospects for global trade The trajectory of world trade has been unsettled in recent years. Following the pandemic-induced contraction and subsequent recovery, merchandise trade volumes declined slightly in 2023, with only services trade contributing to modest overall growth. In contrast, 2024 saw a stronger rebound as world trade expanded by an estimated 3.4 per cent (United Nations, 2025). Merchandise trade growth gained momentum in late 2024, in part because importers accelerated inventory purchases ahead of potential trade restrictions (Zhang and others, 2025). With international trade once…
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World Economic Situation and Prospects: February 2025 Briefing, No. 187

Subdued global outlook amid persistent uncertainties Global economic growth stays below pre-pandemic trends The world economy has shown remarkable resilience, with global growth projected at 2.8 per cent in 2025, the same as in 2024, and 2.9 per cent in 2026. This stability has been underpinned by continued disinflation, softening commodity prices, and monetary easing in many countries. However, ongoing conflicts, geopolitical tensions and potential trade restrictions, as well as climate risks pose significant challenges going forward (figure 1). The global economy is set to grow at a slower pace than the pre-pandemic average of 3.2 per cent recorded between 2010 and 2019, reflecting…
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CDP Plenary 2025

Date and location 24 - 28 February 2025 United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA Documents Agenda Report of the Committee for Development Policy (E/2025/33, Supplement No. 13)
عربي, 中文, English, Français, Русский, Español Opening statements Statement of H.E. Mr. Robert Rae, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations and President of ECOSOC Statement of Mr. Li Jinhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Open session - Advancing sustainable development by 2030 and beyond Link to the event page The recording of the event can be watched at: UN Web TV Summary The Committee for Development Policy (CDP) held its 27th Plenary meeting from 24 to 28…

World Economic Situation and Prospects 2025

Global growth to remain subdued amid lingering uncertainty Lower inflation and monetary easing offer relief, but trade tensions, high debt burdens, and geopolitical risks cloud the outlook Despite falling inflation, improving labour market conditions, and monetary easing, global growth is projected to remain below the pace seen before the pandemic, and the world economy continues to face significant uncertainties. This continues to gravely impact progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially for many developing countries that are still suffering from the accumulated impacts of successive crises.   "Countries cannot ignore these perils. In our interconnected… Download (PDF)
Cover: World Economic Situation and Prospects: November 2024 Briefing, No. 186

World Economic Situation and Prospects: November 2024 Briefing, No. 186

Economic prospects and development challenges in landlocked developing countries Multiple, overlapping crises in recent years have greatly undermined economic and development prospects in landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) (figure 1). Although growth of LLDCs has largely stabilized, the economies are still suffering from the scarring effects of the pandemic. Their structural challenges – ranging from geographic remoteness and reliance on commodities to lack of social safety nets and vulnerability to climate disasters – have exacerbated LLDCs’ fragility. The Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), which will take place in Gaborone, Botswana on 10–13 December 2024…
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World Social Report 2024: Social Development in Times of Converging Crises: A Call for Global Action

According to the World Social Report 2024, urgent global action is needed to support national efforts to address the setbacks caused by the recent global crises, and to avoid the conversion of future shocks to crises. Titled “Social Development in Times of Converging Crises: A Call for Global Action”, the World Social Report 2024 explains that, in our current global policy environment, shocks more readily turn into crises that cross boundaries, demanding international action.  Particularly as such crises disproportionately impact the most vulnerable people, societies and countries. Crisis-driven setbacks in poverty reduction and unemployment Successive shocks, starting with the COVID-… Download (PDF)