I came across recent statistics on GDP per capita — resulting in an interesting list of the poorest countries in the world by this measure. The data for 2025 shows a grim picture: South Sudan leads the list with $251, Yemen in second place with $417. Generally, when looking at the poorest countries in the world, most of them are in Africa — Burundi ($490), Central African Republic ($532), Malawi ($580), Madagascar ($595). Sudan, Mozambique, DRC, Niger — all are in the $600–$750 range.

What’s interesting is that even among the poorest countries, there is variability. Nigeria, despite its oil resources, shows only $807. Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali — all around $900–$1,000. Further down are Rwanda, Togo, Ethiopia — already over $1,000. Lesotho, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau are just above the thousand mark.

In Asia, the situation is similar: Myanmar ($1,177), Tanzania ($1,280), Zambia ($1,332), Uganda ($1,338), Tajikistan ($1,432), Nepal ($1,458). East Timor, Benin, Comoros — all are also among the poorest countries in the world. Even India, with its huge population, shows only $2,878 per capita. This truly reflects global inequality in economic development.