Economy Archive

Despite its improvements, Saudi Arabia’s economy still struggles—hindered by oil dependency, high youth unemployment, fiscal sustainability challenges and fluctuating oil revenues. However, its economic reform plans, particularly Vision 2030, have improved the quality of life for their citizens and residents by expanding opportunities for growth, fostering greater global integration and enhancing governmental efficiency.

As much as the European Union flounders under economic headwinds, Portugal’s economy reports strong growth, beating out previous forecasts. In 2024, Portugal’s economy expanded by 1.9%, beating out the expected growth by 0.1%, with forecasts predicting that the economy would grow by 2.1% in 2025.

Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia’s economy has struggled with a slowdown due to budget challenges and oil production cuts. In 2023, its economy contracted to 0.8% following extended oil production cuts among the OPEC+ member states, of which Saudi Arabia is a top member, which continues to weigh on GDP growth, Reuters reports.

Brazil’s economy has improved significantly in recent years. In 2024, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose by 3.4%, achieving the strongest annual expansion since 2021. The GDP grew by 3.6% in the fourth quarter, coming in just below market expectations. 

South Africa’s economic outlook has improved since last year and set to continue to do so in 2025. Despite easing core inflation, the economy faces rising debt, political instability and a weakening currency. Nevertheless, better fiscal policies and a focus on domestic growth are expected to sustain economic growth.

Despite the darkening economic outlook, Italy is expecting positive economic news in the coming weeks, according to Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, as data on public finances will be published in early March.

Drastic political instability in France has already sent ripples across the nation’s economy and continues to threaten the stability of the European Union. Previously France, alongside Germany, made up nearly half of the eurozone economy. 

At the start of 2025, Egypt faces intense balance-of-payment pressures from the past year.