The poorest countries in the world in 2024: Where are the lowest incomes per capita located

According to the latest data on gross domestic product per capita, African and Middle Eastern countries are among the poorest in the world. Economic crises, political instability, and limited production capacity mean that millions of people in these regions live below the poverty line. Economic indicators clearly show where the poorest population is concentrated.

African states dominate the ranking of the poorest countries

The African continent is represented most strongly in this list. South Sudan, Burundi, and the Central African Republic top the unflattering ranking of the lowest GDP per capita. They are followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, and Mozambique, where economic difficulties drive widespread poverty. These countries are plagued both by natural disasters and droughts and by internal conflicts that hinder economic development. Malawi and Liberia also rank among the poorest countries in the world with comparable economic problems.

Complete ranking of the least well-off countries

Here is an overview of the ten poorest countries by average income per capita in 2024:

1. South Sudan
2. Burundi
3. Central African Republic
4. Democratic Republic of the Congo
5. Niger
6. Mozambique
7. Malawi
8. Liberia
9. Yemen
10. Madagascar

Yemen from the Middle East stands out in this list as the only representative outside the African continent, affected by a long-running civil war and economic collapse. Madagascar, an island off the African coast, closes the list of the world’s poorest countries with an economic situation similarly critical to that of African states.