Amman:The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecasted that Jordan's real GDP growth will accelerate to 3.1 percent by 2027. This marks an increase from the projected 2.7 percent growth for the current year, highlighting the country's economic resilience in the face of regional and global challenges.
According to Jordan News Agency, the IMF's World Economic Outlook report has adjusted Jordan's 2026 growth projection to 2.7 percent, down from 2.8 percent in 2025, before expecting a 0.4 percent increase in economic momentum the following year.
Recent figures from the Department of Statistics show that Jordan's real GDP grew by 3.0 percent in the second quarter of 2026, surpassing the 2.8 percent growth recorded in the same period last year. Key sectors driving this growth include agriculture, manufacturing, and utilities, with growth rates of 7.8 percent, 6.2 percent, and 5.0 percent, respectively.
The IMF also predicts that headline inflation will average 2.5 percent this year, up from 1.8 percent in 2025, before easing to 2.3 percent by 2027. Current domestic inflation figures indicate a year-to-date rate of 2.26 percent, primarily influenced by increases in transportation and housing rental costs.
On the external front, the IMF anticipates the current account deficit to widen to 7.5 percent of GDP in 2026, from 5.6 percent last year, before narrowing to 5.7 percent by 2027. This reflects the pressures on energy-importing economies amid Middle Eastern conflicts and elevated energy costs.
Regionally, the IMF expects the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) economy to contract by 2.0 percent this year but recover with 7.0 percent growth in 2027. Jordan and other import-intensive emerging markets in the region are projected to maintain steady growth of 4.7 percent in both the current and following years.
The report also noted the significant impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure on global commodity and energy markets, as it previously handled around 20 million barrels of oil per day. Oil prices are projected to average USD 95.74 per barrel in 2026, decreasing to USD 87.39 per barrel in 2027, assuming the Strait reopens by March and normalizes by October next year.
The IMF warns that prolonged geopolitical tensions could worsen stagflationary pressures, affecting energy and food prices and straining the external balances of net energy importers. Globally, the IMF projects world output to grow by 3.1 percent this year, rising to 3.4 percent by 2027, supported by robust energy supply channels and increased capital expenditures in artificial intelligence, despite ongoing geopolitical challenges.