Portugal Is The Economist’s “Economy of the Year” 2025 – Golden Visa & Explorer Funds Outlook

Golden Visa Explorer Investments Editorial Team
Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT
Portugal Golden Visa, Economy & Markets, The Economist Ranking

The Economist has named Portugal the “economy of the year” for 2025, ranking it first among 36 rich countries based on GDP growth, inflation, employment and stock market performance. In Q3 2025 Portugal posted GDP growth of 2.4% and a 20.9% rise in share prices, ahead of Ireland, Israel and Spain. This article explains the ranking, highlights key OECD data from The Economist’s “As sweet as a pastel de nata” chart, and explores why the result matters for Portugal Golden Visa investors using the €500k CMVM-regulated fund route with managers such as Explorer.

British magazine The Economist has chosen Portugal as the “economy of the year” for 2025, after comparing the performance of 36 rich countries using five indicators: GDP growth, inflation, deviation from inflation targets, employment and stock market performance. Portugal came first, ahead of Ireland and Israel, while Spain dropped to joint fourth place.

Based on OECD data for Q3 2025, The Economist’s chart “As sweet as a pastel de nata” shows Portugal delivering 2.4% year-on-year GDP growth and 20.9% share price growth, outperforming many larger peers. The magazine highlights tourism, job creation and the arrival of affluent foreign residents as key drivers of this outperformance.

For Portugal Golden Visa investors, the ranking is more than a feel-good headline: it underpins the macro thesis for allocating at least €500,000 to CMVM-regulated funds with exposure to real assets, tourism and the wider economy. In the article we connect this recognition with Portugal’s recent success at the World Travel Awards, discuss the role of regulated private equity funds managed by Explorer, and link to practical resources such as our Portugal Golden Visa Fund Route: Complete Application Checklist for 2026 and our comparison of 5 Trending Retirement & Golden Visa Destinations for Americans (2025).

Source: The Economist, “Which economy did best in 2025?”, 7 December 2025.