Who moves up and why? A closer look at the 2026-2027 release of the World Bank Group Country Income Classifications Eric MetreauKathryn Elizabeth YoungShwetha Grace Eapen July 01, 2026 This page in: English Français Español العربية 中文 日本語

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/who-moves-up-and-why--a-closer-look-at-the-new-world-bank-group- Since 1987, the global income classification landscape has changed significantly, with the share of economies classified as low-income declining from 30% to 11%. These shifts have not been evenly distributed, however, with some countries moving across income groups much faster than others. This year’s update to the World Bank Group Country Income Classifications shows six countries moved to a higher income category, but each has a different story to tell: a country emerging from economic crisis, an export powerhouse outpacing its peers, and an economy that turned out to be 10% larger than previously thought are just three of them.