Developing economies have faced significant financial strain for the third consecutive year, paying more in debt service than they received in new financing. According to the World Bank's 2025 Year in Review, debt outflows reached a staggering 50-year high between 2022 and 2024, highlighting a persistent challenge for these nations.

Despite these considerable financial pressures, the global economy demonstrated unexpected resilience, particularly within developing countries. Global growth not only met but surpassed initial forecasts, even in the face of ongoing tariffs and trade tensions. This resilience was attributed to several factors, including the reopening of bond markets, easing interest rates, and a reduction in trade-policy uncertainty. Stable energy markets also played a crucial role, alongside rapid adaptation strategies such as shifting supply chains, the swift adoption of digital technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and the diversification of markets. Forecasters now anticipate a global growth rate of approximately 2.7 percent for the current year, aligning generally with expectations set at the beginning of 2025.

The World Bank underscored the critical importance of job creation as a cornerstone of development efforts. Jobs are not merely a pathway out of poverty but also instill dignity, hope, and stability within communities. They are instrumental in fostering self-sufficient economies, mitigating humanitarian needs, and stimulating demand for goods, thereby ensuring that development is both sustainable and thriving for the long term.

Looking ahead, the report highlighted significant demographic shifts that will shape the coming century. Over the next decade, an estimated 1.2 billion young people in developing countries are expected to enter working age. Ensuring sufficient employment opportunities for this burgeoning youth population is paramount, as a failure to do so could lead to increased instability, social unrest, and large-scale migration, with profound global economic ramifications.

In response to these challenges and opportunities, the World Bank continues its collaborative efforts with countries worldwide. Its focus remains on cultivating conditions that promote progress, enhance opportunity, and build resilience, with employment generation serving as a key lever for achieving comprehensive and sustainable development.