According to the annual national classification table announced by the WB on July 1, Vietnam was officially upgraded from the group of low-middle income countries to the group of high-middle income countries.
Accordingly, the gross national income (GNI) per capita of Vietnam increased from 4,490 USD in 2024 to 4,970 USD in 2025. This income level exceeds the threshold of 4,636 USD - a criterion for being classified into the high-middle income group according to the new classification of the World Bank.
The WB said Vietnam was upgraded thanks to maintaining positive economic growth and exports. In the two years 2024-2025, export turnover increased by more than 15%, while GDP grew by 7% and 8% respectively.
In the period 2021-2025, Vietnam's GNI grew by an average of 10% per year, and was assessed by World Bank experts as "one of the strongest sustainable growth rates in the region".
Vietnam aims to become a developing country with modern industry and high average income by 2030, moving towards becoming a developed country with high income by 2045. To achieve this, the Government strives for an economic growth rate of 10% or more in the coming period.
This year, the World Bank assessed 218 countries, of which 6 countries were upgraded. In addition to Vietnam, 4 countries were upgraded from low-middle income to high-middle income, including the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Jordan and Micronesia. Togo, a West African country, was upgraded from low-middle income to low-middle income.
In the Philippines, GNI per capita in 2025 reached 4,850 USD, an increase of 380 USD compared to the previous year. This country recorded an average GDP growth rate of 5.8% per year in the 5-year period, reflecting a balanced development in many economic sectors.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka experienced a serious economic crisis in 2022 and is gradually recovering. In 2025, the country's economy grew by 5% thanks to contributions from industry, financial services and tourism.
Currently, the WB classifies countries based on the GNI per capita of the previous year, after adjusting according to exchange rate fluctuations. Economies are divided into four groups including low income, low middle income, high middle income and high income.
According to the new standards, the low-middle income group has an average GNI per capita of 1.176-4.635 USD, while the high-middle income group is from 4.636-14.375 USD. These thresholds are slightly adjusted upwards compared to the previous period due to the impact of inflation.
The WB classification table determines the accessibility of preferential loans and development assistance for each country and helps experts monitor global economic trends. However, the ranking of 6 countries does not affect the current lending policy of the World Bank.
For example, Vietnam and the Philippines are still in the group borrowing from the Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) capital, while Sri Lanka is in the preferential loan group (IDA).
