Poorest countries in the world – ranking

Poorest countries in the world – ranking

African nations dominate the rankings of the world's poorest countries, based on the latest World Bank data

We all have prejudices about places. Take Ethiopia for example. As children of the 1980s, Kia and I were aware of the struggles Ethiopia has faced historically: political unrest, civil war, and of course famine.

So it was easy to imagine a giant, desolate dust bowl before our 2017 visit.

Ethiopia is seen by many as representative of the greater Africa: still developing, still struggling. In reality, it is a country of lush mountains, dazzling architecture and breathtaking natural wonders.

There is poverty, but there is also hope.

Our visit made us wonder whether Ethiopia is still one of the poorest countries in the world. World Bank data shows it ranks 23rd.

Which is the poorest country in the world?

Burundi is the poorest country in the world, followed by the Central African Republic, DR Congo, South Sudan and Somalia as the poorest. The richest countries are Luxembourg, Singapore, Ireland, Qatar and Switzerland.

Soberingly, 19 of the 20 poorest countries are all in Africa. The first non-African country on the list is Afghanistan at number 15.

The World Bank is able to rank the world's poorest countries based on GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP).

The actual purchasing power of a currency is the amount of that currency needed to purchase a given unit of a good or a basket of common goods and services. PPP is determined in each country based on its relative cost of living and inflation rates.

Therefore, using GDP PPP it is possible to compare different regions and rank the poorest countries in the world. International dollars are used as a global comparison currency.

Atlas & BootsEthiopia is the 23rd poorest country in the world

Poorest countries in the world

The World Bank does not have sufficient data for a number of countries, including Andorra, Cuba, Liechtenstein, Monaco, North Korea and Syria, but ranks the world's poorest countries as follows, based on 2020 data unless otherwise noted.

• Daten von 2018** Daten von 2015*** Daten von 2013**** Daten von 2011

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators; GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP); Data last updated on 01/06/22.

You can find more rankings and articles in our remote work section: ► 100 Best Cities in the World ► Most Dangerous Countries in the World ► Countries with the Best Healthcare in the World ► The Worst Countries in the World for Driving ► Happiest Countries in the World ► Best Countries for Women ► Poorest Countries in the World - Ranked ► The Most Powerful Pass in the World ► Countries with the Fastest Internet in the World ► The most stressed countries in the world ► The most expensive cities for expats ► The most democratic countries in the world

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