IMF Forecasts Vietnam in the Top 20 Fastest Growing Economies of 2025

South Sudan is forecast to see the largest GDP increase globally this year, with a growth rate of 27.2%. However, this is growth from a low base of comparison in 2024. Last year, the GDP of this sub-Saharan African nation decreased by 26.4% due to the impact of the conflict with neighboring Sudan.

As a country heavily reliant on oil, South Sudan's GDP is heavily influenced by fluctuations in oil production. Ongoing conflicts have pushed the majority of South Sudan's population into poverty and destroyed much of the vital infrastructure.
Following South Sudan is Guyana, with an economy projected to experience explosive growth of 14.4% in 2025 thanks to newly discovered oil fields and booming oil exploitation

Vietnam is also among the top 20 economies projected to have the strongest growth this year at 6.1%, higher than other countries in the region such as China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Accordingly, Vietnam's economy is forecast to reach a scale of 506 billion USD this year, ranking 33rd in the world.

The World Bank (WB) recently forecast that Vietnam's GDP growth in 2025 will slow down slightly compared to 2024, at 6.8%.

However, the forecasts of both these international organizations are lower than Vietnam's GDP growth target of 8% or higher. This is a target that was adjusted upwards in the National Assembly's Resolution supplementing the socio-economic development plan for 2025. Previously, Vietnam set its GDP growth target for 2025 at 6.5-7%.