IMF raises Russian 2026 GDP growth forecast 0.3 pp to 1.1%

MOSCOW. April 14 (Interfax) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its 2026 GDP growth forecast for Russia to 1.1% from the 0.8% it was expecting in January.

The IMF on Tuesday published its April World Economic Outlook ahead of the spring meeting of the IMF and World Bank.

In it, the IMF lowered its forecast for global economic growth in 2026 by 0.2 pp from 3.3% to 3.1%, compared with 3.4% growth in 2025. The 2027 forecast is unchanged at 3.2%.

The new 1.1% growth forecast for Russia in 2026 slightly higher than the 1% by which the country's GDP grew in 2025.

The IMF in January worsened its 2026 growth outlook for Russia by 0.2 pp from the 1% it was predicting in October. It was expecting just 0.6% growth for 2025.

The IMF's 2026 forecast is below the Russian Economic Development Ministry's 1.3%, although the ministry has said that will be lowered. It is within the 0.5%-1.5% range forecast by the Central Bank of Russia in February.

The IMF forecasts Russian GDP growth at 1.1% in 2027, the January forecast being 1%. The Central Bank of Russia is expecting 1.5%-2.5% growth in 2027 and the Econ Ministry thinks 2.8% growth likely next year.