The IMF is now forecasting a global recession of 4.4% in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. Prior to the pandemic, the IMF had been forecasting growth of 3.2%. Recent global growth rates include 2.9% in 2019, 3.6% in 2018 and 3.7% in 2017, as well as the 3.1%-3.2% growth rates in 2015 and 2016. Those rates in 2015-2016 were perceived as low, but nothing compares to 2020. The IMF expects that industrialized nations will decline the fastest and is expecting a GDP drop of 5.8% for these countries. Emerging markets are not expected to fall as fast, but the IMF still expects a decline of 3.3%. China is the only country expected to grow in 2020 -- and that's at a rate of 1.9%. The IMF expects a sharp rebound in 2021, and is forecasting global growth of 5.2%, with industrialized nations growing 3.9% an