The Countries Where Economic Uncertainty Is Rising Fastest

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Special Report

Pandemic disruptions, trade wars, and geopolitical turmoil have driven global economic uncertainty to unprecedented highs.
The IMF measures country-level uncertainty by tracking uncertainty-related terms in national reports.
Many of the countries where uncertainty rose the most in the past year are small, developing countries dependent on global markets.
For individuals, one antidote to economic uncertainty can be solid financial advice. Click here to get started.

The past year has seen economic uncertainty rise sharply in countries around the world. Persistent supply chain disruptions, geopolitical shocks like the Israel-Gaza war and renewed tensions in the Taiwan Strait, and a volatile global interest rate environment have made it harder for investors, businesses, and consumers to plan for the future. In many countries, inflation and political instability are fueling economic anxiety and weakening domestic demand.

While uncertainty is difficult to quantify, a team of researchers from the International Monetary Fund is using novel text mining techniques to track uncertainty throughout the globe. First released in 2018, the World Uncertainty Index measures the frequency of uncertainty-related terms in Economist Intelligence Unit country reports to standardize and quantify uncertainty across 143 countries.

WUI data shows that some of the most dramatic increases over the past year have occurred in developing countries with recent political transitions, war risk, or sudden macroeconomic shocks. Several developed economies have also seen renewed volatility following elections, currency instability, or rapid policy shifts. A closer look at the data reveals which countries have experienced the biggest surge in economic uncertainty over the past year.

To identify the countries with the highest levels of economic uncertainty, 24/7 Wall St. analyzed quarterly data from the World Uncertainty Index. Countries were ranked based on the change in WUI score – a normalized measure of the number of times the word “uncertainty” and its variants appear in Economic Intelligence Unit country reports – from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025. Supplemental data on GDP and population are from the World Bank.

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.4803 (+0.2617 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 5 instances (+2 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 10,410 words (-3,313 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $132.8 billion ($24,470 per capita)
Total population: 5.4 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.5662 (+0.2871 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 7 instances (+3 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 12,363 words (-1,967 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $1.6 trillion ($32,677 per capita)
Total population: 48.3 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.2964 (+0.2964 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 3 instances (+3 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 10,123 words (-4,016 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $253.5 billion ($48,528 per capita)
Total population: 5.2 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.3058 (+0.3058 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 2 instances (+2 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 6,540 words (+1,521 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $47.9 billion ($1,674 per capita)
Total population: 28.4 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.5173 (+0.3065 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 6 instances (+3 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 11,599 words (-2,632 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $1.4 trillion ($4,941 per capita)
Total population: 281.2 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.4685 (+0.3264 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 5 instances (+3 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 10,673 words (-3,408 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $1.8 trillion ($13,926 per capita)
Total population: 129.7 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.3315 (+0.3315 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 4 instances (+4 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 12,066 words (-1,549 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $514.9 billion ($7,172 per capita)
Total population: 71.7 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.7371 (+0.3335 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 3 instances (+1 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 4,070 words (-886 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $71.9 billion ($7,829 per capita)
Total population: 9.2 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.5059 (+0.3501 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 7 instances (+5 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 13,838 words (+1,000 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $238.2 billion ($22,990 per capita)
Total population: 10.4 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 1.1671 (+0.3523 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 13 instances (+2 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 11,139 words (-2,362 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $118.8 billion ($6,533 per capita)
Total population: 18.0 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.3557 (+0.3557 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 5 instances (+5 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 14,055 words (-1,295 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $1.7 trillion ($33,121 per capita)
Total population: 51.7 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.3580 (+0.3580 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 5 instances (+5 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 13,967 words (-510 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $429.7 billion ($4,347 per capita)
Total population: 100.4 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.3726 (+0.3726 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 2 instances (+2 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 5,367 words (-594 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $108.2 billion ($23,295 per capita)
Total population: 5.0 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.4054 (+0.4054 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 2 instances (+2 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 4,933 words (-575 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $102.1 billion ($5,798 per capita)
Total population: 18.1 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.4139 (+0.4139 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 6 instances (+6 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 14,498 words (-881 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $4.2 trillion ($33,834 per capita)
Total population: 124.5 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.4168 (+0.4168 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 5 instances (+5 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 11,995 words (-2,356 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $3.0 trillion ($44,461 per capita)
Total population: 68.3 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.5647 (+0.4265 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 7 instances (+5 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 12,397 words (-2,081 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $1.1 trillion ($62,537 per capita)
Total population: 17.9 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.6007 (+0.4284 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 3 instances (+2 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 4,994 words (-809 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $34.4 billion ($3,247 per capita)
Total population: 10.6 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.7309 (+0.4328 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 9 instances (+5 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 12,313 words (-1,104 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $351.0 billion ($18,419 per capita)
Total population: 19.1 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.5799 (+0.4352 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 7 instances (+5 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 12,071 words (-1,754 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $632.2 billion ($53,475 per capita)
Total population: 11.8 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.6789 (+0.4743 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 9 instances (+6 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 13,256 words (-1,405 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $2.1 trillion ($53,372 per capita)
Total population: 40.1 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.6124 (+0.4822 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 8 instances (+6 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 13,064 words (-2,305 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $363.5 billion ($6,980 per capita)
Total population: 52.3 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.6868 (+0.5000 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 3 instances (+2 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 4,368 words (-984 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $163.7 billion ($1,294 per capita)
Total population: 128.7 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.5013 (+0.5013 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 2 instances (+2 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 3,990 words (-1,075 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $12.4 billion ($4,743 per capita)
Total population: 3.0 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.5204 (+0.5204 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 2 instances (+2 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 3,843 words (-1,087 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $15.8 billion ($2,075 per capita)
Total population: 7.7 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.5352 (+0.5352 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 2 instances (+2 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 3,737 words (-1,381 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $30.9 billion ($2,994 per capita)
Total population: 10.4 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.9126 (+0.5421 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 4 instances (+2 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 4,383 words (-1,015 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $26.5 billion ($1,592 per capita)
Total population: 16.3 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.6913 (+0.5584 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 10 instances (+8 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 14,466 words (-589 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $102.3 billion ($3,867 per capita)
Total population: 28.3 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.9003 (+0.5713 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 12 instances (+7 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 13,329 words (-1,871 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $27.4 trillion ($81,695 per capita)
Total population: 334.9 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.6836 (+0.5804 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 5 instances (+4 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 7,314 words (-2,370 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $107.4 billion ($1,950 per capita)
Total population: 55.3 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 1.0486 (+0.5817 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 13 instances (+6 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 12,398 words (-2,595 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $377.8 billion ($6,253 per capita)
Total population: 63.2 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.6494 (+0.5833 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 9 instances (+8 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 13,860 words (-1,286 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $4.5 trillion ($52,746 per capita)
Total population: 83.3 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 1.0910 (+0.5883 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 10 instances (+5 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 9,166 words (-780 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $48.5 billion ($3,895 per capita)
Total population: 12.2 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.8781 (+0.6073 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 9 instances (+6 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 10,249 words (-829 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $34.0 billion ($5,344 per capita)
Total population: 6.3 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.6331 (+0.6331 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 9 instances (+9 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 14,215 words (-504 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $2.2 trillion ($10,044 per capita)
Total population: 211.1 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.8352 (+0.6433 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 4 instances (+3 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 4,789 words (-420 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $43.0 billion ($6,260 per capita)
Total population: 6.8 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 1.5044 (+0.6759 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 7 instances (+3 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 4,653 words (-175 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $40.9 billion ($1,324 per capita)
Total population: 29.7 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 0.8310 (+0.6798 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 10 instances (+8 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 12,033 words (-1,190 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $884.9 billion ($99,995 per capita)
Total population: 8.9 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 1.1601 (+0.7632 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 14 instances (+8 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 12,068 words (-3,048 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $335.5 billion ($17,093 per capita)
Total population: 19.7 million

Word Uncertainty Index score, Q1 2025: 1.4918 (+1.4918 from Q1 2024)
Appearances of “uncertainty” in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 15 instances (+15 from Q1 2024)
Total number of words used in EIU reports, Q1 2025: 10,055 words (+261 from Q1 2024)
Total GDP: $437.4 billion ($2,529 per capita)
Total population: 171.5 million

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