The world’s richest person, Elon Musk, has spoken out about changing global economic dynamics, declaring that “the balance of power is shifting” as emerging economies, mainly China and Indiatake the lead in driving global growth.

Musk made the comment while sharing data that highlights a dramatic reordering of contributors to global real GDP growth in 2026. According to figures attributed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), China and India it is expected to account for only nearly 44% of global economic expansion, underscoring Asia’s growing influence at a time when advanced Western economies contribute a much smaller share.

At the top of the list is China, which is expected to contribute 26.6% of global real GDP growth, followed by India at 17%. Together, the two Asian giants account for 43.6% of total global growth, a statistic that clearly illustrates the scale of economic momentum shifting east.

The United States, long the dominant driver of global growth, ranks third with a contribution of 9.9 percent, less than a quarter of the combined share of China and India. Germany, Europe’s largest economy, appears at the bottom of the top 10 list with just 0.9%.

Beyond China and Indiaother emerging and middle-income economies also stand out. Indonesia is expected to contribute 3.8% of global growth, Turkey 2.2% and Vietnam 1.6%. Major developing economies such as Brazil and Nigeria each account for around 1.5%, while Saudi Arabia is expected to add 1.7%.

Together, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to generate about half of global economic growth by 2026, reinforcing the idea that the global economy is increasingly shaped by population scale, urbanization and faster growth rates in emerging markets rather than mature Western economies.

Musk’s brief but pointed comment reflects a growing consensus among economists and policymakers: economic gravity continues its long-term shift away from the transatlantic axis toward Asia and parts of the global South. While the United States and Europe remain central to global finance, innovation and trade, their relative contribution to incremental growth is shrinking as populations age and growth rates slow.

The data also has geopolitical implications. Economic growth often translates into greater political influence, investment power and strategic leverage. As China and India consolidate their roles as major drivers of global expansion, their voices in international institutions and global governance debates are likely to grow louder.