The poorest country in 2025 and the entire top-50 by minimum GDP per capita

Analysis of the economic indicators of global poverty in 2025 shows that the gap between rich and poor regions of the planet remains critically large. According to GDP per capita data, the poorest country in the world is South Sudan with a figure of just $251 per year per person. This number reflects serious challenges faced by developing economies.

The Poorest Country and Leaders in Poverty

South Sudan ($251) ranks first in the unpleasant ranking, followed by Yemen ($417) and Burundi ($490). These three states demonstrate a critical economic situation where the average annual income per person does not exceed $500. The Central African Republic ($532) and Malawi ($580) complete the top five poorest economies on the planet.

In the $600-$750 income group are Madagascar ($595), Sudan ($625), Mozambique ($663), DRC ($743), and Niger ($751). The African continent clearly dominates this unfortunate list, indicating systemic problems in the region’s economic development.

African Concentration of Poverty

Analyzing the top 50 poorest countries by GDP per capita reveals a clear geographical pattern. Somalia ($766), Nigeria ($807), Liberia ($908), Sierra Leone ($916), Mali ($936), The Gambia ($988), and Chad ($991) continue African dominance in the list of economic laggards.

Among other African leaders with minimal income are Rwanda ($1,043), Togo ($1,053), Ethiopia ($1,066), Lesotho ($1,098), Burkina Faso ($1,107), Guinea-Bissau ($1,126), Tanzania ($1,280), Zambia ($1,332), Uganda ($1,338), Benin ($1,532), Senegal ($1,811), Cameroon ($1,865), Guinea ($1,904), Ghana ($2,519), Kenya ($2,468), Mauritania ($2,478), and Ivory Coast ($2,872).

Asian Countries in the Poverty List

The situation in Asia is somewhat different. Myanmar ($1,177) opens the Asian segment of the list of the poorest states. Followed by Tajikistan ($1,432), Nepal ($1,458), East Timor ($1,491), Laos ($2,096), Kyrgyzstan ($2,747), Cambodia ($2,870), and India ($2,878) — the most populous economy in this list.

Bangladesh ($2,689) and its neighbors occupy the lower positions in income per capita in the South and Southeast Asia region, although their indicators are higher than those of the poorest African states.

Caribbean and Pacific Regions

Haiti ($2,672) represents the Caribbean region in the list of the poorest countries, remaining one of the most economically underdeveloped states in America. In the Pacific, the Solomon Islands ($2,379), Kiribati ($2,414), and Papua New Guinea ($2,565) form their own group.

Key Conclusions on Global Poverty

The full list of the 50 poorest countries by GDP per capita in 2025 also includes Zimbabwe ($2,199), Congo ($2,356), Comoros ($1,702), Cameroon ($1,865), and other states. The average indicator among these 50 poorest economies shows that most of their populations live on incomes 10-40 times lower than in developed countries.

The world’s poorest country continues to struggle with issues of political instability, conflicts, and lack of investments, creating a vicious circle of economic poverty. These data highlight the urgency of international aid and sustainable development for the most vulnerable economies on the planet.