Poorest Countries of 2015

2015 Rankings are based on the GDP (PPP) of a country, which compares the generalized differences in the cost of living and standards between countries.

INTRODUCTION

Overall, there are two standard methods of measuring the wealth of countries and how rich or poor its inhabitants are. The measure most often used is Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which represents the size of a country’s economy. A refinement of this is per-capita GDP, which is a measure of the average welfare and affluence, or poverty, of residents of a country. However, GDP and per-capita GDP are less useful when comparing economies across national boundaries – which one must do to determine the poorest countries in the world – because GDP is expressed in a country’s local currency.

The measure that most economists prefer is, and the one used here, GDP at purchasing power parity. GDP (PPP) compares generalized differences in living standards on the whole between nations because PPP takes into account the relative cost of living and the inflation rates of countries, rather than using just exchange rates, which may distort the real differences in income.

Values are expressed in current international dollars, reflecting a single year’s (the current year) currency exchange rates and PPP adjustments.


THE 10 POOREST COUNTRIESIN THE WORLD

 

#10 | MADAGASCAR

City of Antananarivo, Madagascar

Current International Dollars: 1,477.78

Long running political strife and poor governance have undermined this country’s economy and standards of living. In 2015, the IMF estimates that Madagascar’s per-capita GDP (PPP) is less than US$1,500, the tenth lowest in the world. With the political situation stabilizing recently, a new reform plan taking effect and expanding activity in the agricultural, tourism and extractive industries, there is some moderate optimism about this economy going forward.

View Madagascar GDP and Economic Data


Next-Country
left arrow

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD



 

 

#9 | GUINEA

BATA, EQUATORIAL GUINEA - War Memorial
alarico / Shutterstock.com

Current International Dollars: 1,388.74

The Ebola epidemic of 2014 ravaged this country and its economy, adding to years of political instability and dwindling growth. Guinea therefore remains one of the poorest nations in the world, with a per-capita GDP (PPP) estimated at less than US $1,400 in 2015.

View Guinea GDP and Economic Data


Next-Country
left arrow

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD


 

 

#8 | ERITREA

Eritrea church

Current International Dollars: 1,210.15

Despite a promising mining sector, Eritrea suffers the consequences of having one of the most repressive governments in the world: among other things it faces UN sanctions and must deal with thousands of citizens fleeing the country every month. Poverty is widespread and income per-capita (PPP) in 2015 is estimated at just over US $1,200.

View Eritrea GDP and Economic Data


Next-Country
left arrow

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD


 

 

#7 | MOZAMBIQUE

City Of Maputo In Mozambique

Current International Dollars: 1,208.61

Mozambique has enjoyed robust economic growth over the last decade or so, a trend that could be further strengthened by the development of a promising extracting industry. However, that growth has only marginally translated into poverty reduction and rural poverty especially remains profound. Per-capita GDP (PPP) in Mozambique in 2015 was estimated by the IMF to be just less than US $1,210.

View Mozambique GDP and Economic Data


Next-Country
left arrow

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD



 

 

#6 | NIGER

Niger Fisherman

Current International Dollars: 1,069.59

Extractive industries have been contributing to economic growth in recent years, but Niger continues to contend with political instability, institutional fragility and reliance on donor financing. Per-capita GDP (PPP) in 2015 was estimated at US $1,070.

View Niger GDP and Economic Data


Next-Country
left arrow

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD
 

#5 | BURUNDI

Burundi workers by the water
giulio napolitano / Shutterstock.com

Current International Dollars: 951.098

A recent rekindling of political instability is threatening any economic and institutional progress made in this country still plagued by rampant corruption, widespread poverty and low levels of development. In 2015, the IMF estimates that Burundi’s per-capita income (PPP) at US $951.

View Burundi GDP and Economic Data
 


Next-Country
left arrow

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

 

 

#4 | LIBERIA

Liberian businessman
MickyWiswedel / Shutterstock.com

Current International Dollars: 934.095

Liberia is still suffering the remnants of a twenty-year old civil war and its economy remains fragile, though it has been on the upswing in recent months. Widespread poverty, illiteracy and corruption contribute to keeping standards of living low, with a per capita income (PPP) estimated at US $935 in 2015. 

View Liberia GDP and Economic Data


Next-Country
left arrow

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD


 

 

#3 | MALAWI

people of Malawai working by water

Current International Dollars: 819.688

Malawi’s economy has been improving in recent years but persistently high inflation and heavy reliance on donor financing are among the factors that hinder a more widespread and sustainable improvement of standards of living. Per-capita GDP (PPP) in 2015 was estimated at US $820.

View Malawi GDP and Economic Data


Next-Country
left arrow

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD



 

 

#2 | DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Democratic Republic Of The congo Flag Painted on wooden board

Current International Dollars: 753.907

Long-running conflicts continue to prevent political, institutional and economic development in this country, where income per-capita (PPP) is tragically low at an estimated US $750 in 2015..

View Democratic Republic Of The Congo GDP and Economic Data


Next-Country
left arrow

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD



 

 

#1 | CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Central African Republic Flag painted on brick wall.

Current International Dollars: 639.937

The Central African Republic’s is among the world’s least developed countries, plagued by years of sectarian violence, political mismanagement, corruption and resulting widespread poverty. Per-capita income (PPP) in 2015 was estimated to be the lowest in the world, at US $640.

View Central African Republic GDP and Economic Data


left arrow

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

 

 

 


Gross domestic product (GDP) based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) per capita.

Values are expressed in current international dollars, reflecting a single year’s (the current year) currency exchange rates and PPP adjustments.

Ranking

Country

2015 International Dollars

1
Central African Republic
639.937
2
Congo, Dem. Rep.
753.907
3
Malawi
819.688
4
Liberia
934.095
5
Burundi
951.098
6
Niger
1,069.59
7
Mozambique
1,208.61
8
Eritrea
1,210.15
9
Guinea
1,388.74
10
Madagascar
1,477.78
11
Guinea-Bissau
1,491.19
12
Togo
1,525.64
13
Mali
1,614.10
14
Kiribati
1,640.76
15
Ethiopia
1,656.44
16
Comoros
1,735.13
17
Rwanda
1,782.46
18
Burkina Faso
1,824.62
19
Uganda
1,836.02
20
Haiti
1,846.12
21
Gambia
1,849.99
22
Solomon Islands
1,877.21
23
Benin
1,957.78
24
Afghanistan
2,051.05
25
Tanzania
2,054.32
26
Zimbabwe
2,106.83
27
Sierra Leone
2,284.06
28
South Sudan
2,374.36
29
Senegal
2,398.26
30
Nepal
2,516.94
31
Vanuatu
2,609.13
32
Chad
2,805.09
33
Tajikistan
2,830.14
34
Papua New Guinea
2,856.67
35
Côte D’Ivoire
3,096.65
36
Lesotho
3,110.64
37
Cameroon
3,116.66
38
Djibouti
3,181.68
39
Micronesia, Federated States Of
3,285.14
40
Marshall Islands
3,292.47
41
Kenya
3,304.48
42
Sao Tome And Principe
3,306.66
43
Cambodia
3,533.63
44
Kyrgyz Republic
3,581.33
45
Mauritania
3,587.92
46
Bangladesh
3,631.19
47
Yemen
3,992.87
48
Ghana
4,338.27
49
Zambia
4,345.33
50
Sudan
4,655.06
51
Honduras
4,849.30
52
Pakistan
4,943.26
53
Nicaragua
5,018.76
54
Moldova
5,091.05
55
Myanmar
5,207.68
56
Tonga
5,274.12
57
Samoa
5,355.84
58
Lao People’S Democratic Republic
5,357.17
59
Uzbekistan
5,963.77
60
Viet Nam
5,983.24
61
India
6,176.29
62
Nigeria
6,467.23
63
Bolivia
6,530.17
64
Cape Verde
6,569.82
65
Congo, Rep.
7,038.16
66
Guyana
7,279.77
67
Timor Leste
7,388.46
68
Philippines
7,412.24
69
Guatemala
7,704.20
70
Armenia
7,748.05
71
Swaziland
8,053.70
72
Morocco
8,097.23
73
Georgia
8,222.77
74
Bhutan
8,252.83
75
El Salvador
8,275.84
76
Belize
8,338.99
77
Ukraine
8,493.56
78
Fiji
8,553.95
79
Angola
8,573.33
80
Paraguay
8,776.30
81
Jamaica
8,941.65
82
Bosnia And Herzegovina
10,359.60
83
Indonesia
10,759.18
84
Dominica
11,029.40
85
Mongolia
11,051.67
86
Sri Lanka
11,155.84
87
Namibia
11,361.12
88
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
11,380.20
89
Saint Lucia
11,432.50
90
Egypt, Arab Republic
11,443.89
91
Albania
11,688.93
92
Ecuador
11,839.19
93
Tunisia
11,896.99
94
Grenada
12,091.83
95
Jordan
12,397.90
96
Peru
12,638.84
97
Serbia
12,971.49
98
Maldives
12,987.71
99
South Africa
13,078.00
100
Dominican Republic
13,347.97
101
Iraq
13,817.09
102
Macedonia, FYR
13,901.13
103
China
13,992.69
104
Colombia
14,164.43
105
Algeria
14,802.35
106
Thailand
15,319.51
107
Brazil
15,518.77
108
Costa Rica
15,534.03
109
Turkmenistan
15,837.26
110
Palau
15,839.60
111
Montenegro
15,996.01
112
Barbados
16,500.31
113
Botswana
16,758.31
114
Iran, Islamic Republic Of
16,918.28
115
Suriname
17,502.96
116
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic Of
17,787.39
117
Bulgaria
17,869.22
118
Lebanon
18,358.02
119
Mexico
18,714.05
120
Mauritius
18,836.44
121
Belarus
18,882.48
122
Azerbaijan
18,913.51
123
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
19,182.46
124
Turkey
20,299.39
125
Romania
20,355.72
126
Croatia
20,873.01
127
Saint Kitts And Nevis
21,073.34
128
Uruguay
21,387.31
129
Panama
21,634.56
130
Argentina
21,924.29
131
Gabon
22,878.98
132
Antigua And Barbuda
23,071.33
133
Chile
24,170.03
134
Latvia
25,195.47
135
Russian Federation
25,350.86
136
Kazakhstan
25,367.27
137
Hungary
25,406.32
138
Seychelles
25,624.02
139
Poland
25,703.48
140
Bahamas
25,793.62
141
Malaysia
25,833.20
142
Greece
27,008.05
143
Portugal
27,180.22
144
Estonia
27,729.44
145
Lithuania
28,245.32
146
Cyprus
28,329.38
147
Slovak Republic
28,887.72
148
Czech Republic
29,658.73
149
Equatorial Guinea
29,735.42
150
Slovenia
30,266.44
151
Trinidad And Tobago
32,346.41
152
Malta
32,977.12
153
Israel
34,162.24
154
Spain
34,228.87
155
Italy
35,228.02
156
New Zealand
36,342.72
157
Korea, Republic Of
37,413.01
158
Japan
38,797.39
159
United Kingdom
39,224.92
160
Finland
41,393.81
161
France
41,396.01
162
Belgium
42,923.15
163
Iceland
44,575.14
164
Oman
44,903.66
165
Denmark
45,800.36
166
Canada
45,981.99
167
Taiwan
45,996.57
168
Germany
46,165.86
169
Sweden
46,386.42
170
Austria
46,906.12
171
Australia
48,288.43
172
Ireland
48,786.91
173
Netherlands
48,797.89
174
Bahrain
52,830.01
175
Saudi Arabia
56,253.43
176
Switzerland
56,815.63
177
United States
57,045.46
178
Hong Kong
57,676.79
179
United Arab Emirates
67,201.88
180
Norway
67,619.10
181
Kuwait
71,600.96
182
Brunei Darussalam
80,335.27
183
Singapore
84,821.40
184
Luxembourg
94,167.01
185
Qatar
146,011.85

Where Are The Richest Countries In The World?


arrow-chevron-right-redarrow-chevron-rightbutton-arrow-left-greybutton-arrow-left-red-400button-arrow-left-red-500button-arrow-left-red-600button-arrow-left-whitebutton-arrow-right-greybutton-arrow-right-red-400button-arrow-right-red-500button-arrow-right-red-600button-arrow-right-whitecaret-downcaret-rightclosecloseemailfacebook-square-holdfacebookhamburger-newhamburgerinstagramlinkedin-square-1linkedinpauseplaysearch-outlinesearchsubscribe-digitalsubscribe-printtwitter-square-holdtwitteryoutube