World Economic Forum 6d ago

Global foreign direct investment rebounded by 14% to $1.6 trillion in 2025, yet the gains remained heavily concentrated in advanced economies, widening the gap with the emerging markets expected to drive the majority of growth in the coming decades. Young populations, rapid digital adoption and expanding consumer bases give emerging economies significant structural advantages, but capital, technology and industrial capacity continue to flow elsewhere. As competitiveness gaps widen, what is separating the front-runners from the laggards, and where will the next engines of growth emerge?