Top 10 largest economies in the world in 2025: The year 2025 has been fluid and volatile for the global economy. After a resilient start, growth is now showing signs of a moderate slowdown, as anticipated.

According to the IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2025, global growth is expected to ease from 3.3 per cent in 2024 to 3.2 per cent in 2025, and further to 3.1 per cent in 2026.

For advanced economies, GDP growth is projected at 1.6 per cent in both 2025 and 2026 — a 0.2 percentage-point decline from the previous year.

In contrast, emerging markets and developing economies are expected to expand at a slightly faster pace, though still moderating from 4.3 per cent in 2024 to 4.2 per cent in 2025 and 4.0 per cent in 2026.

The United States, the world’s largest economy, is projected to grow at 2.0 per cent in 2025 and 2.1 per cent in 2026.

The slight downward revision reflects rising policy uncertainty, higher trade barriers, and slower labour-force and employment growth.

China remains the world’s second-largest economy. Despite a slowdown in the second quarter, its growth is projected at 4.8 per cent in 2025.

China’s rise is notable — from the world’s sixth-largest economy in the 1960s to the second-largest in 2025.

Source: IMF: GDP current prices (billion dollars) and Real GDP growth (annual percentage change)

India briefly overtook Japan earlier this year to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, and its upward trajectory continues.

With projected growth of 6.6 per cent in 2025 and 6.2 per cent in 2026, India remains the fastest-growing major economy.

The country is also expected to surpass Germany and become the world’s third-largest economy within the next 2.5 to 3 years, according to NITI Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam.