The Poorest Countries in the World: A Complete Overview Based on 2025 Data

The question of which country is the poorest in the world has a clear answer based on analysis of GDP per capita. According to 2025 data, the most critical situations are observed in African countries and certain regions of Asia. The top 50 poorest countries demonstrate a consistent trend of geographic concentration of economic problems.

Africa as the epicenter of global poverty

The poorest country in the world is South Sudan, with a GDP per capita of only $251. This young African nation, gaining independence in 2011, has faced ongoing conflicts and infrastructure destruction. Following it are other African countries: Yemen ($417), Burundi ($490), Central African Republic ($532), and Malawi ($580).

The African continent dominates the list of the poorest states. African countries account for the vast majority of the 50 most economically underdeveloped regions. Among them are Madagascar ($595), Sudan ($625), Mozambique ($663), DRC ($743), Niger ($751), Somalia ($766), Nigeria ($807), Liberia ($908), Sierra Leone ($916), Mali ($936), Gambia ($988), Chad ($991), and others.

Asian countries on the list of the poorest

In addition to African nations, some Asian regions are also among the poorest. Tajikistan ($1,432), Nepal ($1,458), East Timor ($1,491), and Laos ($2,096) face serious economic challenges. Bangladesh ($2,689) and Cambodia ($2,870), despite their large populations, remain among the economically underdeveloped countries.

Full ranking of the 50 poorest countries by GDP per capita

Top 20 poorest: Rwanda ($1,043), Togo ($1,053), Ethiopia ($1,066), Lesotho ($1,098), Burkina Faso ($1,107), Guinea-Bissau ($1,126), Myanmar ($1,177), Tanzania ($1,280), Zambia ($1,332), Uganda ($1,338), Benin ($1,532), Comoros ($1,702), Senegal ($1,811), Cameroon ($1,865), Guinea ($1,904).

Next range (21-35): Zimbabwe ($2,199), Congo ($2,356), Solomon Islands ($2,379), Kiribati ($2,414), Kenya ($2,468), Mauritania ($2,478), Ghana ($2,519), Papua New Guinea ($2,565), Haiti ($2,672).

Final part of the list (36-50): Kyrgyzstan ($2,747), Ivory Coast ($2,872), India ($2,878).

Global conclusions

Analysis of 2025 confirms that the poorest country in the world remains in Africa, and the geographic distribution of economic poverty remains critically uneven. Most countries with low GDP per capita face issues of political instability, insufficient investment in education and healthcare, and limited access to technology. The data indicate a need for international aid and targeted economic reforms to improve the well-being of populations in these regions.