Standards are the hidden foundations of prosperity. They are the shared rules that make plugs fit sockets, medicines work safely, and digital systems connect seamlessly. For low- and middle-income countries, they are more critical than ever: nearly 90% of global trade is now shaped by nontariff measures, most linked to standards.
The World Development Report 2025: Standards for Development explores how standards—whether for measurement, compatibility, or quality—should be at the heart of development strategies. They enable innovation, reduce trade costs, and protect against technological, financial, and environmental risks. Used properly, standards are a springboard for inclusive growth, better health and education, and a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Countries that build capacity to comply with standards, adapt international standards if needed, and actively shape global norms are securing growth and resilience. Those that neglect them face higher costs of accessing markets and lost opportunities.
Key Policy Messages
These the major themes and messages from the World Development Report 2025: Standards for Development on using standards to advance global development priorities. Click on each card to read them.
Standards as a springboard for development
Standards as a springboard for development
Low- and middle-income countries should use standards as a springboard for development, not as a straight jacket. Countries should:
- Create the conditions needed for firms to upgrade quality, and avoid enforcing such upgrading with mandatory standards.
- Adapt quality standards in line with the capacity of stakeholders to comply with them. Overly ambitious standards that can’t be met create risks.
- Join and speak up in international standards forums and share findings at home. Attending international meetings can influence international standards, and the process can be an opportunity for learning.
Using the full toolbox of standards for policy
Using the full toolbox of standards for policy
Low- and middle-income countries must consider using the full toolbox of standards for policy, not just the hammer. Countries should use standards:
- As a flexible tool in public policy, combining voluntary standards and regulation to pursue innovation-friendly policy approaches.
- To require all sectoral regulators and other government bodies to use quality infrastructure consistently. Using uniform approaches to compliance across the government and sharing facilities save public resources and avoid creating nontariff barriers to trade.
Quality infrastructure to realize standards’ full potential
Quality infrastructure to realize standards’ full potential
Developing countries should use quality infrastructure to realize the full potential of standards. To achieve this, countries should:
- Sequence the development of quality infrastructure according to market demand and country preferences.
- Develop capacity for compliance as a public-private partnership.
- Focus on the availability of quality infrastructure, not the location. Not all quality infrastructure institutions need to be physically located in each country.
- Leverage digital tools for better quality infrastructure and to make it more accessible and cost effective.
International standards can better serve low- and middle-income countries
International standards can better serve low- and middle-income countries
The global community should develop international standards that better serve low- and middle-income countries by:
- Supporting low- and middle-income countries in the process of developing international standards—or risk low uptake.
- Promoting tiered standards to match different capacities. From the design stage, standards should integrate varying capacity levels of countries.
Ensuring that standards don’t become barriers to development
Ensuring that standards don’t become barriers to development
To ensure that well-intended standards don’t become barriers to development, the global community must:
- Deepen international regulatory cooperation. Early cooperation on regulations helps prevent standards becoming barriers to trade.
- Tidy up the “spaghetti bowl” of standards. Even if standards are voluntary, fragmentation (multiple standards for the same product/service) can become a problem. Consolidating by building trust and mutual recognition is key.
- Amass more data and evidence to inform regulatory impact assessments and guide policy makers.
Standards are essential to tackle global challenges
Standards are essential to tackle global challenges
The global community can set and comply with standards to help tackle global challenges now and avoid crises later:
- The risks of unchecked technological progress like AI and environmental degradation grow exponentially, outweighing the benefits.
- Standards are essential to align technological development with societal preferences.
