Signal Growth below 3% in 2026-27 makes the 2020s the slowest decade since the 1960s

Summary

This signal flags a prolonged global growth slowdown that falls hardest on weaker economies. UNDP observes that growth is becoming increasingly uneven, with the poorest and most fragile countries losing ground. If global growth stays below 3% in both 2026 and 2027, the 2020s could turn out to be the slowest decade for growth since the 1960s. This fits a broader picture in which countries with strong institutions, fiscal space and human capital recovered quickly after the pandemic while others remain stuck in low-growth cycles. Rising debt, climate stress and labour disruption further narrow the options available to lagging economies.