The World Bank reclassified Jordan as an upper-middle-income economy in its Fiscal Year 2027 income classifications, following a comprehensive revision of the country's national accounts that showed the Jordanian economy is approximately 10% larger than previously estimated.
The updated classification took effect on July 1, 2026, and reflects both improved statistical methodologies and sustained economic growth, according to the World Bank.
The upgrade follows revisions by Jordan's Department of Statistics, which expanded data coverage and enhanced the methodology used to compile national accounts. The World Bank also cited Jordan's 2.8% economic growth in 2025 as a contributing factor to the country's new income status.
Under the World Bank's Atlas method, Jordan's gross national income (GNI) per capita rose to $5,260, up from $4,430 in the previous classification. The revised figure places the country comfortably above the $4,636 threshold required for upper-middle-income economies, exceeding the benchmark by $624.
The World Bank emphasized that the Atlas-based GNI per capita is designed primarily for international classification and analytical purposes and should not be interpreted as a measure of the average income earned by individuals.
Income classifications published annually by the World Bank serve as an important benchmark for governments, development institutions, and international investors. They also influence some countries' eligibility for concessional financing and development assistance programs.
As part of the same annual update, the World Bank also promoted the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the Federated States of Micronesia to the upper-middle-income category. No country was downgraded to a lower income group in the latest review.
World Bank
World Bank
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