% annual change in real gross domestic product

Area 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002¹

All less-developed countries 3.5 4.0 5.7 3.9 4.2

Regional groups

Africa 3.4 2.8 3.0 3.5 3.1

Asia 4.0 6.1 6.7 5.6 6.1

Middle East, Europe, Malta, and Turkey 3.6 1.2 6.1 1.5 3.6

Western Hemisphere 2.3 0.2 4.0 0.6 -0.6

Countries in transition -0.7 3.7 6.6 5.0 3.9

Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook, September 2002.