Global Economic Divergence Worsens: The 2025 List of Countries with the Lowest Per Capita GDP Reveals Wealth Disparities

In today’s era of economic globalization, income disparities among countries remain significant. According to the latest data from 2025, there are substantial differences in per capita GDP among the world’s poorest nations, vividly reflecting the uneven development of the global economy.

The Poorest Regions: Per Capita GDP Less Than $600

The countries at the top of the list with the most difficult economic conditions include South Sudan with a per capita GDP of $251, ranking at the bottom. Following are Yemen ($417), Burundi ($490), Central African Republic ($532), and Malawi ($580). These nations face severe development challenges, with weak infrastructure, low resource utilization efficiency, and extremely limited living standards.

Madagascar ($595), Sudan ($625), and Mozambique ($663) are also close behind, highlighting the tough economic situation in sub-Saharan Africa.

Low-Income Countries: $600 to $1500

Countries approaching the $1,000 mark still face economic hardships. The Democratic Republic of the Congo ($743), Niger ($751), and Somalia ($766) have seen slight improvements, but their per capita incomes remain very low. Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous country, has a per capita GDP of only $807, reflecting a large population with relatively low economic development.

Liberia ($908), Sierra Leone ($916), Mali ($936), Gambia ($988), and Chad ($991) have long struggled with resource scarcity and political instability. Rwanda ($1043), Togo ($1053), and Ethiopia ($1066) show slight growth trends, but there is still room for improvement.

Emerging Economies: $1500 to $2900

Some countries are beginning to show signs of economic recovery. Lesotho ($1098), Burkina Faso ($1107), and Guinea-Bissau ($1126) are slowly climbing. Myanmar ($1177), Tanzania ($1280), Zambia ($1332), and Uganda ($1338) in East Africa and Southeast Asia demonstrate stronger development potential.

Tajikistan ($1432), Nepal ($1458), East Timor ($1491), and Benin ($1532) remain among the poorest globally but have surpassed the $1,000 per capita GDP threshold. Comoros ($1702), Senegal ($1811), Cameroon ($1865), and Guinea ($1904) represent transitions from low-income to lower-middle-income status.

Countries Overcoming Extreme Poverty: Above $2000

Laos ($2096), Zimbabwe ($2199), Congo ($2356), Solomon Islands ($2379), and Kiribati ($2414) have begun to move out of the most difficult category. Kenya ($2468), Mauritania ($2478), and Ghana ($2519) show more pronounced development momentum.

Papua New Guinea ($2565), Haiti ($2672), Bangladesh ($2689), Kyrgyzstan ($2747), Cambodia ($2870), Ivory Coast ($2872), and India ($2878) are still among the world’s poorest countries but have established certain economic foundations.

The Global Reality Reflected by the Data

The per capita GDP data of these 50 poorest countries reveal distinct regional characteristics—the vast majority are in Africa, especially concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. Several low-income countries from Asia, such as Bangladesh and Nepal, are also on the list. These nations face common challenges: inadequate infrastructure, insufficient investment in education, a single-industry economic structure, and weak international trade competitiveness.

Although economic growth remains slow, some countries are making efforts to improve. Progress in food security, education expansion, and healthcare investment is gradually advancing, and international aid and development projects offer hope. However, the global income gap continues to widen, and the economic divide between the poorest nations and developed countries remains enormous.