Ranking of the 50 poorest countries in the world by GDP per capita (2025)

The 50 poorest countries in the world show very contrasting economic realities based on 2025 data. GDP per capita remains the main indicator used to measure the level of economic development and the well-being of populations. This analysis highlights regions and economies facing the greatest development challenges.

African Dominance: 30 Countries Among the 50 Poorest

Sub-Saharan Africa overwhelmingly dominates this ranking of the least wealthy countries in terms of GDP per capita. South Sudan ranks last with only $251 per person, followed by Yemen ($417) and Burundi ($490).

Economic data reveal a significant concentration: among the top ten positions, nine countries are African. Central African Republic ($532), Malawi ($580), and Madagascar ($595) complete this particularly vulnerable group. Sudan ($625), Mozambique ($663), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($743) continue this list of the most fragile economies on the continent.

In the 11th to 30th positions, we find Niger ($751), Somalia ($766), Nigeria ($807), Liberia ($908), Sierra Leone ($916), Mali ($936), Chad ($991), Rwanda ($1,043), Togo ($1,053), Ethiopia ($1,066), Lesotho ($1,098), Burkina Faso ($1,107), and Guinea-Bissau ($1,126).

Asian Economies: Significant Presence in Poverty

Asia has about 12 countries among the 50 poorest in the world by GDP per capita. Myanmar ($1,177), Tanzania ($1,280), and Zambia ($1,332) mark the beginning of this transition toward slightly less depressed economies.

Uganda ($1,338), Tajikistan ($1,432), and Nepal ($1,458) complete this Asian overview. East Timor ($1,491), Benin ($1,532), and Comoros ($1,702) are also in this critical category.

Senegal ($1,811), Cameroon ($1,865), and Guinea ($1,904) show gradual increases in GDP per capita, while Laos ($2,096) and Zimbabwe ($2,199) approach $2,200.

Island States and Transition Economies

Transition economies and some island states occupy the lower part of the ranking of the 50 poorest countries. Congo ($2,356), Solomon Islands ($2,379), and Kiribati ($2,414) demonstrate the particular challenges faced by small island economies.

Kenya ($2,468), Mauritania ($2,478), and Ghana ($2,519) are approaching the $2,500 GDP per capita mark. Papua New Guinea ($2,565), Haiti ($2,672), and Bangladesh ($2,689) complete this final section.

Kyrgyzstan ($2,747), Cambodia ($2,870), Ivory Coast ($2,872), and India ($2,878) close this list of the 50 least economically developed countries according to this crucial indicator of GDP per capita.

These data highlight global economic disparities and the importance of supporting the development of the world’s poorest countries.