The Poorest Countries in the World in 2025: Complete GDP per Capita Rankings

According to the latest statistical data published in late 2025, the list of the world’s poorest countries continues to be topped by Sub-Saharan African states and some developing regions of Asia. Gross domestic product per capita remains a key indicator of economic development and living standards in the regions.

The most critical figures are recorded in countries where annual income per person does not exceed $1,000. This group includes mainly African nations experiencing prolonged political and economic crises.

Abbreviation of the leaders in economic underdevelopment: the poorest countries in Africa

At the top of the grim ranking of poor states is South Sudan, with $251 per capita. It is followed by Yemen ($417) and Burundi ($490). The Central African Republic, Malawi, and Madagascar are also among the world’s poorest countries, with GDP per capita in the $490–$595 range.

Sudan ($625), Mozambique ($663), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($743) continue the list of critically poor African states. Niger, Somalia, and Nigeria round out this bleak picture of economic development, where the average income for the population ranges between $751–$807.

Asian states and the specifics of economic lag

The list of the world’s poorest countries also includes Asian regions. Tajikistan ($1,432), Nepal ($1,458), and Timor-Leste ($1,491) rank among the 50 least developed economies on the planet. Myanmar ($1,177), Bangladesh ($2,689), and Cambodia ($2,870) show low per-capita income figures.

India, despite its status as a major economy, closes the list with $2,878 per capita, which is explained by the country’s enormous population and uneven income distribution among regions.

A comprehensive picture of global economic inequality

The full ranking includes 50 countries with the lowest GDP per capita: from Liberia ($908) and Sierra Leone ($916) to Papua — New Guinea ($2,565) and Haiti ($2,672). Benin ($1,532), Senegal ($1,811), and Cameroon ($1,865) represent the intermediate group of poor African economies.

These data demonstrate that economic underdevelopment remains a global problem concentrated primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and some regions of the Pacific. The GDP per capita figure serves as an important indicator of socio-economic development and the quality of life of citizens in each nation.