The following list highlights the 20 poorest countries in the world based on GDP per capita, which is a measure of a country’s economic output per person. Many of these countries face challenges such as political instability, limited resources, conflict, and poor infrastructure.
1. Burundi
- GDP per capita: ~$308
- Burundi faces extreme poverty due to political instability, low agricultural productivity, and lack of infrastructure.
2. South Sudan
- GDP per capita: ~$372
- A young nation plagued by civil war and instability, South Sudan’s economy is heavily reliant on oil but suffers from poor governance and conflict.
3. Malawi
- GDP per capita: ~$399
- Heavily dependent on agriculture, Malawi is vulnerable to climate shocks and faces high rates of rural poverty.
4. Central African Republic
- GDP per capita: ~$448
- Ongoing conflict, poor infrastructure, and a lack of industry contribute to the Central African Republic’s low income levels.
5. Mozambique
- GDP per capita: ~$502
- Mozambique’s economy is affected by natural disasters, debt, and a reliance on subsistence farming.
6. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
- GDP per capita: ~$584
- Despite rich natural resources, decades of conflict, corruption, and poor governance keep the DRC impoverished.
7. Niger
- GDP per capita: ~$595
- Niger suffers from desertification, political instability, and over-reliance on subsistence farming.
8. Madagascar
- GDP per capita: ~$610
- Madagascar’s poverty stems from political instability, deforestation, and a lack of infrastructure.
9. Chad
- GDP per capita: ~$625
- Chad is hindered by conflict, a largely rural population, and over-reliance on oil and agriculture.
10. Somalia
- GDP per capita: ~$646
- Somalia has struggled with decades of civil war, terrorism, and lack of governance, contributing to widespread poverty.
11. Liberia
- GDP per capita: ~$674
- Liberia is recovering from civil wars but still faces poor infrastructure, unemployment, and a reliance on foreign aid.
12. Sierra Leone
- GDP per capita: ~$703
- Recovering from a brutal civil war, Sierra Leone continues to face economic struggles, compounded by the Ebola outbreak in 2014.
13. Afghanistan
- GDP per capita: ~$720
- Ongoing conflict, political instability, and reliance on foreign aid have kept Afghanistan in poverty.
14. Togo
- GDP per capita: ~$760
- Togo’s economic growth is hampered by political instability and limited industrialization.
15. Guinea-Bissau
- GDP per capita: ~$790
- Guinea-Bissau faces political instability, weak institutions, and a reliance on cashew exports.
16. Haiti
- GDP per capita: ~$812
- The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti struggles with political instability, natural disasters, and deforestation.
17. Burkina Faso
- GDP per capita: ~$845
- Burkina Faso is challenged by desertification, over-reliance on agriculture, and political instability.
18. Mali
- GDP per capita: ~$888
- Mali faces instability due to terrorism, desertification, and a reliance on gold mining and agriculture.
19. Comoros
- GDP per capita: ~$920
- An island nation, Comoros suffers from political instability, limited resources, and a reliance on agriculture.
20. Eritrea
- GDP per capita: ~$950
- Eritrea faces economic isolation, limited foreign investment, and a restrictive government, leading to widespread poverty.
These countries face a combination of factors that contribute to their economic challenges, including conflict, political instability, reliance on agriculture, and lack of infrastructure.