Asia remains the main driver of global economic growth

09:42

By: Azzat Manal

Asia remains the main driver of global economic growth

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said global economic growth slowed slightly in the second quarter of 2026, with Asia continuing to provide the largest contribution to worldwide expansion.

Real global gross domestic product growth fell to 0.7% in the second quarter, compared with 0.8% during the first three months of the year, according to figures released by the international financial institution. Global economic growth has averaged 0.8% over the past six quarters.

Regional performance remained uneven. Europe recorded growth of 0.6% in the second quarter, recovering from zero growth in the previous quarter. Growth across Asia, meanwhile, slowed to 0.9% from 1.3%, although the region remained the largest contributor to global expansion.

North and South America maintained a 0.5% growth rate, unchanged from the first quarter. Africa posted stronger growth, rising to 1.6% from 1.3%, while growth in Oceania increased to 0.5% from 0.4%.

Asia accounted for the largest share of global growth during the quarter, contributing around 0.4 percentage points. Europe, the Americas and Africa each contributed approximately 0.1 percentage point.

The figures also showed a divergence between advanced and developing economies. Growth among advanced economies accelerated to 0.5% in the second quarter, compared with 0.4% in the first quarter. By contrast, growth in developing economies slowed to 0.9% from 1.1%.

As a result, advanced economies increased their contribution to global growth to around 0.2 percentage point, up from 0.1 percentage point in the first quarter. The contribution from developing economies declined to 0.5 percentage point from 0.7 percentage point.

The latest data highlight the uneven pace of the global recovery, with Asia retaining a central role in overall economic expansion despite a moderation in its growth rate. At the same time, stronger activity in Africa and Europe helped offset part of the slowdown recorded in several other regions.

The IMF figures point to a global economy that continues to expand, but at different speeds across regions and income groups. The evolution of growth in the coming quarters will depend on how these regional trends develop and how advanced and developing economies respond to changing global economic conditions.