Economic indicators in South Asian countries have shown signs of a gradual improvement following major political changes, but the economies have yet to fully recover, with GDP growth, inflation and trade figures reflecting persistent challenges.
Pakistan’s economic indicators showed a sharp slowdown after former prime minister Imran Khan was removed through a no-confidence vote in April 2022. GDP growth, which stood at 6.2% in 2022, contracted to -0.2% in 2023 before recovering to 2.6% in 2024 and 3.2% in 2025, according to the data. Inflation rose from 8.9% in 2021 to 29.2% in 2023, before easing to 23.4% in 2024. Trade figures also showed a contraction, with exports declining 7.9% in 2023 and imports falling 29.2%. Bangladesh recorded GDP growth of 4.2% in 2024 and 3.5% in 2025 following the removal of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Inflation increased from 9.7% in 2024 to 10% in 2025. Merchandise exports, however, registered a 1.9% increase in 2025, rising from $47.25 billion to $48.17 billion, according to the figures.
The figures provided do not include a longer series of economic indicators to compare performance before and after the change in government. Nepal saw a political transition in September 2025, when KP Sharma Oli resigned, followed by Balendra Shah becoming prime minister in March 2026. The available data records GDP growth of 4.4% and inflation of 4.1% in 2025. Merchandise exports increased 75.6% during the year, from $1.32 billion to $2.31 billion. Sri Lanka experienced a severe economic contraction in 2022, the year former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned in July amid an economic crisis. GDP contracted 7.3% in 2022 and 2% in 2023 before growing 5% in each of 2024 and 2025. Inflation, which stood at 45.2% in 2022, fell to 17.4% in 2023 and 1.2% in 2024. The data records inflation at -0.5% in 2025. Merchandise exports declined from $13.11 billion in 2022 to $11.91 billion in 2023. Anura Kumara Dissanayake became president in September 2024.
