A new World Bank report reveals that one in four developing countries is now poorer than before the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling a “downshift” in global growth that disproportionately affects the world’s most vulnerable. While wealthy nations like the US have recovered, many low-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are burdened by high debt and insufficient investment. World Bank Chief Economist Indermit Gill emphasized that these trends are not just the result of misfortune, but often reflect avoidable policy mistakes and record levels of public debt.
Date: January 13, 2026. Source: theguardian.com