The 50 poorest countries in the world in 2025 according to GDP per capita

The ranking of the world’s poorest countries in 2025 reveals significant economic disparities between nations. Based on the GDP per capita indicator, this ranking shows that most of the poorest countries are concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa, while several South Asian nations also experience extremely low income levels.

Sub-Saharan Africa Dominates the List of the Poorest Countries

Sub-Saharan Africa holds a prominent position among the world’s poorest countries in 2025. South Sudan remains the poorest nation in the world with a GDP per capita of only $251. This critical situation is followed by several other African states: Yemen ($417), Burundi ($490), Central African Republic ($532), Malawi ($580), and Madagascar ($595).

The African continent continues to account for three-quarters of the countries on this list of extreme poverty. Nations such as Sudan ($625), Mozambique ($663), DR Congo ($743), Niger ($751), Somalia ($766), Nigeria ($807), Liberia ($908), Sierra Leone ($916), Mali ($936), The Gambia ($988), and Chad ($991) all have a GDP per capita below $1,000.

Among the other poorest African countries in the world, there 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), Comoros ($1,702), Senegal ($1,811), Cameroon ($1,865), Guinea ($1,904), Zimbabwe ($2,199), Congo ($2,356), Kenya ($2,468), Mauritania ($2,478), Ghana ($2,519), and Ivory Coast ($2,872).

South Asia Also Experiences Extreme Poverty Levels

Beyond Africa, several Asian nations are among the poorest in the world based on GDP per capita. Myanmar holds a notable position with $1,177 per person, while Tajikistan ($1,432), Nepal ($1,458), Laos ($2,096), Kyrgyzstan ($2,747), Cambodia ($2,870), and India ($2,878) complete this difficult economic picture.

These Asian economies share with their African counterparts the structural challenges faced by the poorest countries: limited infrastructure, reduced productive capacity, and dependence on primary sectors.

Other Regions: Pacific and Caribbean in Economic Poverty

Beyond Africa and Asia, other regions include some of the poorest countries in the world. Timor-Leste records a GDP per capita of $1,491, while the Solomon Islands ($2,379), Kiribati ($2,414), Papua New Guinea ($2,565), Haiti ($2,672), and Bangladesh ($2,689) complete this ranking of countries with the lowest income per capita worldwide.

These global economic disparities highlight the scale of development challenges faced by certain nations, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the poorest countries in the world are concentrated.