SESRIC launched the OIC Economic Outlook 2025 during the 41st Session of the of the COMCEC held in İstanbul from 1 to 4 November 2025. The report, themed “Pathways to Stability amid Tariff Impacts,” provides a comprehensive analysis of the macroeconomic outlook of OIC member states against a backdrop of slowing global growth, persistent inflation, and renewed trade tensions.

According to the report, economic growth in OIC countries remains above the global average but still trails pre-pandemic levels, revealing a widening growth gap. In 2024, OIC economies collectively expanded by an estimated 3.6%, compared with the global average of 3.1%, yet below the 4.4% pre-pandemic trend. The unemployment rate across the OIC has remained relatively stable at about 5.3%, representing over 43 million people—nearly a quarter of the world’s unemployed—while inflation continues to outpace global levels, with consumer prices in 2024 nearly 90% higher than in 2019. 

Meanwhile, fiscal and external balances have come under increasing strain as trade deficits widened sharply, with the OIC merchandise trade balance shifting from a US$1.4 billion surplus in 2023 to a US$144 billion deficit in 2024. Despite these challenges, the OIC’s share of global foreign direct investment inflows reached a record high in 2024, reflecting growing investor confidence in several emerging markets within the OIC  group.

The report notes that new U.S. tariff measures have added uncertainty to global trade, potentially slowing growth worldwide. While OIC economies’ direct exposure to the U.S. remains limited—about 6% of total trade—indirect effects through supply-chain disruptions and higher import costs could be felt across key sectors. In this vein, the report underscores the importance of diversifying exports, boosting industrial and technological capacity, and strengthening intra-OIC cooperation to enhance resilience and narrow the growth gap, paving the way for more inclusive and stable development across the OIC countries.

Online Electronic Version

• OIC Economic Outlook 2025 - Pathways to stability amid tariff impacts (English) (Arabic) (French)