In a landmark moment for the global economy, Harvard University professor and renowned economist Jason Furman has declared India the fastest-growing economy in the world, outpacing giants like the United States, China, Russia, and Europe in the post-pandemic era.
Sharing data on X (formerly Twitter), Furman revealed a graph comparing GDP performance of major economies from 2019 to 2025—and the results place India in a league of its own.
India’s Unmatched Comeback
While all major economies crashed into recession in 2020, India not only recovered—but surged ahead.
GDP Growth vs Pre-Pandemic Trend
India: Expected to hit +5% by mid-2025 — highest in the world
US: Around +2%
Euro Zone: -3%
China: -5%
Russia: -8%
Furman emphasized that India will be the only major economy to grow above its long-term trend, calling it a structural, not temporary, rise.
From Pandemic Lows to Global Leadership
In 2020, GDP declines hit:
Euro Area: -25%
China: -10%
Russia: -8%
US: -5%
India: -5%
But unlike others, India bounced back rapidly, surpassing its pre-Covid trajectory by 2022, reaching +3% in 2024, and now racing toward +5% in 2025.
What Powered India’s Rise?
According to Furman, four key factors fueled India’s surge:
●Digital public infrastructure
●Investment & policy reforms
●Strong domestic consumption
●Stable macroeconomic environment
He noted that while other countries battled inflation, sanctions, geopolitical tension, and real estate crises, India leveraged stability and innovation.
Why Other Economies Lagged
China: Dragged down by real-estate crisis & long Zero-Covid policies
Russia: Under sanctions post-Ukraine invasion
Euro Zone: Inflation & uncertainty
US: Growth heavily dependent on AI-driven data centers, raising sustainability concerns
Global Confidence in India
Leading agencies echo the same sentiment:
ICRA: 7% GDP growth in Q2 FY26
Moody’s: 7% in 2025, 6.4% in 2026
IMF: Praises India’s digital revolution, manufacturing push & young workforce
With Asia-Pacific projected at just 3.4% growth in 2026, India remains the star performer of the region.
The Big Picture
India’s rise isn’t just a recovery—it’s a reshaping of global economic power. As the world navigates uncertainty, India has emerged as a blueprint for developing nations—powered by technology, reform, and demographic strength.
And for the first time in decades, the world’s fastest-growing economy isn’t a Western superpower or China—it’s India.
