Emerging markets investing
Active investing in emerging markets: our heritage, your opportunity
Emerging markets are shaping the future – powered by fast growing economies, rising consumer demand, and transformative shifts driven by AI and the global energy transition.
With over $65bn1 invested emerging market equities and debt, and almost 40 years of experience, we help clients access these emerging opportunities with clarity and conviction.
Why emerging markets?
Growth potential that's hard to ignore
Emerging markets contribute almost 70% of global GDP growth2, supported by innovative businesses, stronger balance sheets and steadily improving financial stability.
Many economies now have lower inflation, healthier current accounts and central banks moving towards rate cuts – underpinning a compelling emerging markets outlook.
Diversification beyond developed markets
Emerging markets return potential differs from developed markets dominated by mega-cap tech.
Yes, regional risks apply to varying degrees – regulatory, currency, political – but the historical emerging markets/developed markets risk gap has narrowed – strengthening the case for selective emerging markets investing and active allocation.
Choice across asset classes
Emerging markets span equity and fixed income assets, from fast-growing consumer companies to high-quality sovereign and corporate issuers.
This breadth allows investors to target income, growth or blended strategies aligned with their goals – and select regions and sectors that match their risk appetite.
Paul Diggle
Chief Economist Aberdeen Investments
“Few regions match the pace and potential of emerging markets. Powerful themes such as energy transition, AI adoption, and a favourable global macro backdrop are creating fresh momentum – all supported by attractive valuations.”
Paul Diggle
Chief Economist Aberdeen Investments
Why Aberdeen Investments for emerging markets?
Nearly four decades of emerging markets heritage
For nearly 40 years, we’ve invested across emerging markets through periods of rapid growth, volatility, geopolitical upheaval and shifting market dynamics. Across every cycle, our aim has remained the same: to provide clients with consistent, research‑driven access to emerging markets opportunities.
Hands-on, high-conviction research
Local access from Shanghai to São Paulo underpins deep, firsthand insights. Our approach centers on collaborative research across our team of 80 analysts, integrated ESG and disciplined risk management – helping uncover inefficiencies and capture emerging market opportunities with confidence.
A broad and flexible platform
Aberdeen Investments provides one of the broadest emerging markets platforms in the industry – spanning emerging markets equities, emerging market debt, income strategies, frontier markets, small caps, China and ex-China strategies. This breadth allows investors to build precise, outcome-oriented solutions to meet their investment objectives with clarity and conviction.
In focus
Emerging markets income
A high conviction approach to emerging markets investing. We invest in resilient, cash generative companies that aim to deliver a premium income stream with long term growth potential.
Emerging markets funds
Visit our fund center to see the full range of emerging markets investment opportunities available.
abrdn Emerging Markets Fund
Institutional class
abrdn Emerging Markets Ex-China Fund
Institutional class
abrdn Asia Pacific Income Fund, Inc.
Ticker: FAX
abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund
Ticker: AEF
The India Fund, Inc.
Ticker: IFN
abrdn Emerging Markets Dividend Active ETF
Ticker: AGEM
Contact us
Contact our team to hear more about our emerging markets investment capabilities and how our approach may support your objectives
FAQs
Emerging markets are fast‑growing economies that are transitioning toward developed status. They typically show strong economic growth, rapid industrialization, and increasing involvement in global trade and investment. Although they offer high potential, they can be volatile because of political and economic instability. Examples include China, India, and Brazil.
Emerging markets offer higher growth potential, expanding consumer markets, and diversification benefits. These features may help investors to capture long‑term opportunities beyond developed economies.
Emerging markets can be more volatile because of political instability, weaker economic structures, currency fluctuations, and less‑developed financial systems. These factors can lead to sharper market swings and higher investment risks compared with developed markets.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors play a key role in identifying companies that manage ESG risks more effectively. In emerging markets, where standards can vary widely, strong ESG practices can signal better long‑term stability, improved transparency, and more sustainable growth potential.
Frontier markets are younger, less mature economies than emerging markets. They typically have smaller financial markets, higher levels of political and economic risk, fewer listed companies, and lower trading volumes.
Frontier markets offer high growth potential, but also higher risk and volatility than traditional emerging markets.
Examples of frontier markets include:
- Vietnam
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- Bangladesh
- Romania
- Kazakhstan
Yes – emerging markets may be suitable for long‑term investing, because of their higher growth potential and expanding consumer economies. However, they come with greater volatility and risk, so they’re best used as part of a diversified long‑term portfolio.
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- Source: Aberdeen Investments, as at 31 December 2025
- Note: Calculated using GDP based on PPP share of world total Real GDP growth Source: Jefferies, IMF