Vietnam’s growth outlook for 2025 has been significantly downgraded by the World Bank, with projections falling to 5.8 percent from 6.5 percent forecast in October 2024, according to its April 2025 World Bank East Asia and the Pacific Economic Update.
Key points:
- Vietnam posted 7.1 percent GDP growth in 2024.
- April 2025 forecasts predict 5.8 percent growth for 2025, before a recovery to 6.1 percent in 2026.
- In October 2024, the World Bank had forecast 6.1 percent growth for 2024 and 6.5 percent for 2025.
Vietnam’s near-term economic outlook has dimmed slightly, with the International Monetary Fund lowering its GDP growth forecast for 2025 in its latest April 2025 World Economic Outlook. Real GDP is now projected to grow 5.2 percent in 2025 which is a somewhat more pessimistic outlook than the World Bank.
Regional comparison:
| WB Update | – | Oct 2024 | Oct 2024 | Apr 2025 | Apr 2025 |
| Forecast Year | 2024 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026 |
| Indonesia | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Malaysia | 5.1 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 4.3 |
| Philippines | 5.7 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Thailand | 2.5 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 1.8 |
| Vietnam | 7.1 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 5.8 | 6.1 |
| Cambodia | 6.0 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Lao PDR | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
| Myanmar | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | -1.0 | 1.5 |
See also: How to Start a Business in Vietnam