Beirut, 30 December 2022--According to the latest version of the "Survey of Economic and Social Developments in the Arab Region", released today by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the region's economy is expected to grow by 4.5% in 2023 and 3.4% in 2024, despite the disruption of the global economy's recovery from the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic by the war in Ukraine.
Through its annual Survey, ESCWA provides an analysis of the latest social and economic trends in the region, to support member States' efforts in developing and implementing evidence-based policies, and improving economic planning processes to achieve sustainable and inclusive development.
According to the Survey, the Arab region registered the world's highest unemployment rate in 2022, at 12%. There may be a very slight decrease in 2023 to 11.7%, owing to post-COVID-19 economic recovery efforts.
According to Ahmed Moummi, Lead Author of the Survey, despite the region's positive growth outlook, there are significant discrepancies among countries, which were exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. Indeed, the repercussions of that war are not the same for all Arab countries: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and other oil-exporting ones will continue to benefit from higher energy prices, while oil-importing countries will suffer from several socioeconomic challenges, including rising energy costs, food supply shortages, and drops in both tourism and international aid inflows. Inflation rates are estimated at 14% in 2022, but are likely to decrease to 8 and 4.5% in the next two years, respectively.
"The current situation presents an opportunity for oil-exporting Arab countries to diversify their economies away from the energy sector by accumulating reserves and investing in projects that generate inclusive growth and sustainable development," underlined Moummi.
Poverty as measured against national poverty lines of Arab countries affected one third of the region's population in 2022. The Survey expects a further rise in poverty levels in the next two years, reaching 36% of the population in 2024.
Although a humble progress towards closing the gender gap can be seen in some Arab countries, it is still estimated at 37% in the region where only 1 woman out of 5 enters the labour force.
***
About ESCWA
One of five United Nations regional commissions, ESCWA supports inclusive and sustainable economic and social development in Arab States, and works on enhancing regional integration.
