The world economy is entering a more fragile phase, with leading economists warning of weaker global growth and deeper structural risks. This is according to the World Economic Forum’s Chief Economists’ Outlook, released at the end of September.

The survey shows 72% of chief economists from organisations in both the public and private sectors, expect the global economy to weaken in 2026, while 56% anticipate widening divergence between advanced and developing markets.

Europe is flagged for sluggish momentum, with 40% of respondents predicting weak growth despite fiscal loosening, while over half expect the United States to struggle with both weak output and persistent inflation.

Sub-Saharan Africa, by contrast, is expected to remain resilient. A majority of economists see growth in the region holding steady or even strengthening, placing it alongside South Asia and the Middle East as rare bright spots.

Structural drivers such as youthful demographics, expanding consumer markets, and continued resource demand are cited as reasons for relative optimism, even as infrastructure gaps and debt burdens continue to weigh on some economies.

The report highlights the long-term disruptions reshaping the global economy. Three in four economists anticipate that technology and innovation will be a source of structural upheaval, while 78% warn that energy and resource constraints will reshape markets for years to come.

Trade is already under strain, with 70% rating the current level of disruption as very high, raising the prospect of lasting realignments in global value chains.

Debt risks are also shifting toward advanced economies. Eighty percent of those surveyed expect rising debt vulnerabilities in developed markets over the next year, a reversal of historic patterns.

The findings point to a world where growth is uneven, risks are increasingly structural, and regions like sub-Saharan Africa stand out more for their resilience than their vulnerability.