India has emerged with the strongest growth outlook among the economies covered in the World Economic Forum’s September 2026 Chief Economists’ Outlook, with expectations supported by resilient domestic demand.
According to the report, 98 per cent of surveyed chief economists expect India to record moderate or stronger growth over the next 12 months. Among them, 74 per cent anticipate strong or very strong growth, up from 52 per cent in the previous survey conducted in May.
The WEF said India’s growth prospects continue to benefit from resilient domestic demand, although higher energy prices remain a concern for the economic outlook. The assessment places India and Southeast Asia among the regions receiving the strongest growth expectations.
India’s economy recorded 7.8 per cent real GDP growth in the April-June quarter of 2026-27, with manufacturing, services and domestic demand contributing to the expansion. The Reserve Bank of India has projected 6.7 per cent growth for FY27.
The outlook for other major economies is comparatively mixed. The WEF survey found that 98 per cent of chief economists expect moderate or stronger growth in the United States over the next 12 months, while 31 per cent anticipate strong growth. Expectations for China have weakened, while Europe continues to record relatively lower growth assessments.
The report also highlighted broader risks facing the global economy, including geopolitical conflicts, asset-price corrections and continuing cost-of-living pressures. At the same time, respondents identified artificial intelligence as a major source of optimism for the global economy.
For India, the combination of domestic demand and recent economic momentum remains an important source of resilience amid external uncertainties. However, energy prices and geopolitical developments remain factors that could influence the growth outlook in the coming months.
