By NAN Enterprise Editor
Information Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Aug. 7, 2025: Regardless of a sluggish international outlook, a number of Caribbean economies are forecast to outperform their regional friends in 2025, in accordance with new information from the United Nations Financial Fee for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
ECLAC’s Financial Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2025, launched Tuesday, initiatives a modest 2.2% common GDP progress fee for the Latin America and Caribbean area subsequent 12 months. Nevertheless, just a few Caribbean nations are defying the pattern, with Guyana, Dominican Republic, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines rising as shiny spots amid issues over slowing tourism demand and international financial headwinds.
Guyana Leads With Double-Digit Progress
Guyana continues to dominate regional progress projections, with GDP anticipated to surge by 10.3% in 2025, powered by strong investments within the nation’s booming hydrocarbons sector. Following a staggering 43.6% enlargement in 2024, Guyana’s momentum positions it because the fastest-growing financial system within the hemisphere.
Dominican Republic and Saint Vincent Additionally Outperform
Following Guyana, the Dominican Republic is predicted to publish a 3.7% progress fee in 2025, pushed by sturdy home demand, tourism resilience, and structural reforms.
In the meantime, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is forecast to develop by 4.0%, putting it among the many high 5 Caribbean performers. The island has benefitted from steady tourism restoration and focused public funding.
Different Notable Performers
- Antigua and Barbuda: 3.5%
- Grenada: 3.5%
- Suriname: 3.2%
- Dominica: 2.5%
- Saint Lucia: 2.5%
- Barbados: 2.6%
These progress forecasts distinction sharply with bigger regional economies like Jamaica (1.3%), Bahamas (1.8%), and Trinidad and Tobago (1.5%), that are projected to stay flat amid international uncertainty.
Tourism and Power Prices Stay a Drag
The report warns that the general Caribbean area, excluding Guyana, is predicted to develop simply 1.8% in 2025, a slowdown from 2.6% in 2024. That is largely as a consequence of decrease GDP progress within the U.S. – the area’s largest tourism supply market – together with persistent challenges like excessive vitality and transport prices, and vulnerability to climate-related disasters.
The Outlier: Haiti and Cuba Face Contraction
Haiti and Cuba stay financial laggards. ECLAC initiatives Haiti’s GDP will shrink by -2.3% in 2025, following a -4.2% contraction in 2024, citing ongoing political instability and humanitarian crises. Cuba can also be anticipated to contract by –1.5%, reflecting the island’s continued battle with exterior financing, sanctions, and weak home output.
Trying Forward
Regardless of the subdued regional outlook, ECLAC highlights that useful resource mobilization and coverage innovation will probably be key to unlocking medium-term progress. Caribbean nations that diversify past tourism, put money into infrastructure, and harness vitality transition alternatives usually tend to climate international volatility.
The report – launched at a press convention led by the United Nations regional fee’s Government Secretary, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs – emphasizes that the estimates level to totally different dynamics amongst sub-regions and nations.
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