I took an interesting look at the GDP per capita statistics for 2025. It turns out, which country is the poorest in the world? South Sudan with a value of only $251 per person. This is simply a shocking number.

Next comes Yemen ($417), Burundi ($490), and the Central African Republic ($532). Most of these countries are in Africa—there really are the most critical income situations. Malawi, Madagascar, Sudan, Mozambique—all of them are below $700 per person per year.

What’s surprising is the variety of reasons. Some countries are victims of wars and conflicts (Yemen, Sudan), while others simply have underdeveloped infrastructure and an underdeveloped economy. The DRC, Niger, Somalia—all of them are in the $700–800 range.

If we talk about which country is the poorest among larger economies, then it’s Nigeria with $807 per person, even though it has a huge population. An interesting contrast: India finishes last on this list with $2,878, and even that is considered a very low figure.

Overall, when you see statistics like this, you understand the scale of inequality. Which country is the poorest—it’s not just a number; it’s the fate of millions of people. The difference between South Sudan and developed countries is simply astronomical.