UN’s World Economic Situation and Prospects Report 2026
January 13 , 2026 13 hrs 0 min 28 0
It was produced by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).
It was also in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the five United Nations regional commissions.
According to the UN report, the increase in global military expenditure in 2024 to $2.7 trillion reflects “the steepest annual increase since at least 1988”.
The rise has been driven by the world’s 10 largest spenders, which make up nearly 75 per cent of the total.
Many developing countries continue to struggle with elevated debt burdens, limited fiscal space and tepid growth.
The progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals remains distant.
Some important steps that were taken in 2025 by the international community to renew solidarity and strengthen collective action.
These collective actions include the Sevilla Commitment, the World Social Summit and COP30
World Social Summit that reaffirmed that jobs, equality and human rights are the foundation of peace and prosperity.
4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) was in June 2025 Seville, Spain.
A Sevilla Commitment was adopted which laid down a path to close the $4 trillion annual SDG financing gap in developing countries.