Many poorer countries are in a difficult economic situation. This is worse than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Global economic growth is not enough to reduce poverty or create jobs. Reports show that one in four of these countries had less income per person from 2019 to 2025. This period had many economic problems. Sub-Saharan Africa was hit hard. Some countries are still finding it difficult to recover.
The world economy is slowing down. Growth in developing countries is expected to slow from 4.2% in 2025 to 4% in 2026. This slow growth is not enough to end extreme poverty or create enough jobs. The global economy will grow by 2.7% in 2025. However, this growth is small and offers little help to poorer countries.
China, however, has a very large trade surplus. In 2025, its surplus was $1.189 trillion. This was because China exported a lot more goods than expected. China used this strategy to help its economy. It wanted to balance problems in its property market and low spending by its own people.
This economic difference between countries has global effects. The United States and Europe are worried about China's strong manufacturing. They are thinking about policies to limit China's exports. Because of this, Chinese companies are looking for new places to sell their goods. They are selling more to Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This is to avoid problems with trade limits.
Chinese officials say their foreign trade is strong. However, China's large trade surplus and new markets raise questions. For countries already struggling after the pandemic, these changes in global trade make the future difficult. This affects poverty and jobs.