The world's poorest person: understand the countries with the lowest economic development in 2025

What would be the scenario of the world’s poorest person? The answer is connected to the countries facing the lowest global per capita income levels. Annually, institutions like the IMF and World Bank publish indicators that measure national development. Today, we will explore this economic reality from a different perspective: where is extreme poverty concentrated and what factors keep these populations in this cycle.

The 10 countries with the lowest GDP per capita (PPC) in 2025

The global economic reality shows a concentration of structural poverty mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa and regions affected by prolonged conflicts. Check out the data:

These numbers reflect extremely vulnerable economies, where the average annual income is at levels that hinder access to basic services.

What explains the persistence of extreme poverty?

The world’s poorest person lives in contexts where multiple factors intertwine. Civil wars, political instability, and institutional fragility weaken economies and deter investments. Simultaneously, these nations rely heavily on subsistence agriculture or raw material exports, without significant industrial diversification.

Limited access to education and healthcare compromises workforce productivity. When population growth outpaces economic growth, GDP per capita stagnates or even regresses. These combined factors create a poverty structure that self-perpetuates.

Contextual analysis of the poorest countries

South Sudan holds the title of the nation with the lowest GDP per capita. Despite having significant oil reserves, civil conflicts since independence prevent this wealth from reaching the population. The lack of political stability discourages domestic and foreign investments.

Burundi has a predominantly agricultural economy with low productivity. Decades of political instability and one of the lowest human development indices on the planet characterize its situation.

Central African Republic, rich in minerals, experiences ongoing internal conflicts that cause population displacement and collapse of public services. A similar reality affects the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where vast mineral reserves do not benefit the population due to armed conflicts and corruption.

Somalia faced decades of civil war, resulting in the absence of strong state institutions and a predominant informal economy. Yemen, the only non-African country in the ranking, has been experiencing one of the worst global humanitarian crises since 2014.

Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar suffer from dependence on agriculture, climate vulnerability, and low industrialization, despite economic potentials not fully exploited.

Understanding GDP per capita as a metric

GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power (PPC) divides the total value of goods and services produced by a country by its population, considering the local cost of living. This metric allows for more equitable comparisons between nations with different currencies and price structures.

Although it does not perfectly capture social inequality or the quality of public services, it remains one of the best available indicators to measure average income standards.

What these data reveal for investors and observers

Identifying the world’s poorest person through these rankings is not limited to pointing out a name. These data reveal global structural challenges: inequality, institutional fragility, lack of investment in human capital, and vulnerability to external shocks.

Understanding the global economic reality helps visualize risks and development cycles. For those active or wanting to start in the financial market, understanding these dynamics offers perspective on capital flows, investment opportunities, and risk management in different economic contexts.

Knowledge about the global distribution of income and development forms the basis for informed decisions in the international market.