Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
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PRESS RELEASE
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan Economic Update, April 2026
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/04/08/conflict-hits-menaap-economies-underscoring-need-for-action-to-boost-resilience-create-jobs

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and destruction of energy and public infrastructure have disrupted markets, increased financial volatility, and weakened the 2026 growth outlook, according to the latest edition of the World Bank Group’s Economic Update for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP).

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PRESS RELEASE
World Bank and Qatar Fund for Development Partner on Jobs and Recovery
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/01/25/world-bank-group-and-qatar-fund-for-development-partner-to-promote-jobs-reconstruction-and-recovery
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A New Regional Hub in Riyadh
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/09/22/world-bank-establishes-regional-hub-for-middle-east-north-africa-afghanistan-and-pakistan-in-riyadh
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THE WORLD BANK GROUP IN THE MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, AFGHANISTAN & PAKISTAN

Regional Economic Update: April 2026

The Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP) region is facing conflict, exacting a serious human and economic toll and heightening geopolitical uncertainty. Disruptions to key energy supply routes and infrastructure have affected markets, driven financial volatility, and weakened the 2026 growth outlook. Excluding Iran, overall growth in the region is expected to slow from 4.0 percent in 2025 to 1.8 percent for 2026. This forecast stands 2.4 percentage points below the World Bank Group’s January projections.
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region
MEA

BY THE NUMBERS: MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, AFGHANISTAN & PAKISTAN

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https://data360.worldbank.org/en/region/MEA
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
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WB_FSI_BX_KLT_DINV_CD_WD
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$)
WB_WDI_SI_POV_DDAY
Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population)
WB_WDI_EG_ELC_RNEW_ZS
Renewable electricity output (% of total electricity output)
WB_WDI_SL_TLF_CACT_FE_ZS
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate)
WB_WDI_SE_ENR_PRSC_FM_ZS
School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI)
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OUR PRIORITIES
IN THE MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, AFGHANISTAN & PAKISTAN
We are committed to working across the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan to help create a world free of poverty on a livable planet.

Jobs

Children in Partner for People and the Planet

The MENAAP region faces an immense jobs challenge. Your working-age population is growing far faster than jobs are being created. The region’s working-age population—now about 380 million—will increase by 40% over the next 25 years, but economic growth has been low and not job intensive.  Our goal is more private sector jobs, faster.

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Water

Man listening on headset

The World Bank is dedicated to supporting MENAAP countries in taking strong steps to ensure a water-secure future for their citizens. As a result, millions of people across the region are benefiting from improved services and a more secure water supply.

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Gender

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Supporting women’s progress goes beyond boosting the economy—it’s about building a brighter, more inclusive future for all.

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THE LATEST FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICAN, AFGHANISTAN & PAKISTAN

Stay up to date with our latest findings from the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

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CONNECT WITH US

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Regional Leadership

Ousmane Dione
https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/people/o/ousmane-dione
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Vice President, Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (MENAAP)
Roberta Gatti
https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/people/r/roberta-gatti
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Chief Economist, Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (MENAAP)

Office of the Chief Economist

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Regional Contact

World Bank
1818 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20433 USA
mnateam@worldbank.org

All Regional Contacts

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MORE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, AFGHANISTAN & PAKISTAN
  • world-bank:content-type/report
MENAAP Economic Update : April 2025
https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/mena/publication/middle-east-and-north-africa-economic-update-archiveapril2025
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The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is expected to grow moderately at 2.6 percent in 2025 — a forecast that is shrouded in uncertainty given the rapidly changing global environment as well as ongoing conflicts and extreme weather shocks.
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  • world-bank:content-type/report
MENA Economic Update: October 2024
https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/mena/publication/middle-east-and-north-africa-economic-update-archiveoctober2024
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The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is expected to grow at 2.2% in 2024, yet the outlook remains subdued amid heightened uncertainty.
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