Over 900 million people are predicted to live on less than $1.90 per day, the World Bank’s extreme poverty level. While this is an improvement over previous years, it still represents more than 9% of the global population. Moreover, poverty of this nature tends to concentrate in places with relatively low incomes.
In the Poorest Countries In The World in 2023, the sum of money earned by a country’s population and enterprises in a given year is known as gross national income. Income earned by corporations or individuals based in a specific country operating outside its borders is included. GNI is a valuable metric for determining a country’s income—the metric aids in deciding which countries are the wealthiest and poorest in the world.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed statistics on gross national income per capita for 193 countries and particular regions and data from the World Bank to determine the world’s poorest countries.
1The Poorest Countries In The World 2023
2Burundi
Burundi, the poorest country in the world, has a GDP per capita of only $261. With a population of around 12 million, the country faces various economic challenges, including political instability, poor infrastructure, and limited access to education and healthcare.
3South Sudan
South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, has a GDP per capita of $346. The government has been plagued by years of civil war, leading to widespread poverty, hunger, and disease.
4Malawi
Malawi, with a GDP per capita of $455, is the third-poorest country in the world. The government relies heavily on agriculture, which employs more than 80% of the population. Malawi faces various economic challenges, including poor infrastructure and limited access to education and healthcare.
5Central African Republic
The Central African Republic has a GDP per capita of $484, making it the fourth-poorest country in the world. The government has been plagued by political instability, civil unrest, and economic challenges, which have led to widespread poverty and hunger.
6Niger
Niger, with a GDP per capita of $502, is the fifth-poorest country in the world. The country faces various economic challenges, including political instability, limited access to education and healthcare, and poor infrastructure.
7Mozambique
Mozambique, with a GDP per capita of $532, is the sixth-poorest country in the world. The country faces various economic challenges, including political instability, limited access to education and healthcare, and poor infrastructure.
8Liberia
Liberia, with a GDP per capita of $549, is the seventh-poorest country in the world. The country faces various economic challenges, including political instability, limited access to education and healthcare, and poor infrastructure.
9Madagascar
Madagascar, with a GDP per capita of $577, is the eighth-poorest country in the world. The country faces various economic challenges, including political instability, limited access to education and healthcare, and poor infrastructure.
10Guinea
Guinea, with a GDP per capita of $602, is the ninth-poorest country in the world. The country faces various economic challenges, including political instability, limited access to education and healthcare, and poor infrastructure.
11Eritrea
Eritrea, with a GDP per capita of $623, is the tenth-poorest country in the world. The government has faced years of political turmoil, which has significantly impacted its economy.
12Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso, with a GDP per capita of $631, is the eleventh-poorest country in the world. The country faces various economic challenges, including limited access to education and healthcare and poor infrastructure.
13Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone, with a GDP per capita of $634, is the twelfth-poorest country in the world. The government has faced years of political instability, civil war, and Ebola outbreaks, which have significantly impacted its economy.
14Afghanistan
Afghanistan, with a GDP per capita of $649, is the thirteenth-poorest country in the world. The government has been plagued by decades of war and political instability, leading to widespread poverty and economic challenges.
15Togo
Togo, with a GDP per capita of $665, is the fourteenth-poorest country in the world. The country faces various economic challenges, including limited access to education and healthcare and poor infrastructure.
16Yemen
With a GDP per capita of $669, Yemen is the fifteenth-poorest country in the world. The government has been plagued by years of civil war, leading to widespread poverty, hunger, and disease.
17Ethiopia
Ethiopia, with a GDP per capita of $704, is the sixteenth-poorest country in the world. The country faces various economic challenges, including limited access to education and healthcare and poor infrastructure.
18Gambia
Gambia, with a GDP per capita of $737, is the seventeenth-poorest country in the world. The country faces various economic challenges, including limited access to education and healthcare and poor infrastructure.
19Congo, DRC
The Democratic Republic of Congo has a GDP per capita of $743, making it the eighteenth-poorest country in the world. The government has faced years of political instability, conflict, and economic challenges, which have led to widespread poverty and hunger.
20Zimbabwe
With a GDP per capita of $772, Zimbabwe is the nineteenth-poorest country in the world. The government has faced years of political and economic turmoil, significantly impacting its economy.
21Haiti
Haiti, with a GDP per capita of $781, is the twentieth-poorest country in the world. The government has faced various economic challenges, including political instability, limited access to education and healthcare, and poor infrastructure.
22Rwanda
With a GDP per capita of $802, Rwanda is the twenty-first-poorest country in the world. The government has made significant progress in recent years but still faces various economic challenges, including limited access to education and healthcare and poor infrastructure.
23Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau, with a GDP per capita of $811, is the twenty-second-poorest country in the world. The country faces various economic challenges, including political instability, limited access to education and healthcare, and poor infrastructure.
24Comoros
Comoros, with a GDP per capita of $814, is the twenty-third-poorest country in the world. The country faces various economic challenges, including limited access to education and healthcare and poor infrastructure.
25Chad
With a GDP per capita of $839, Chad is the twenty-fourth-poorest country in the world. The country faces various economic challenges, including political instability, limited access to education and healthcare, and poor infrastructure.
26Nepal
With a GDP per capita of $862, Nepal is the twenty-fifth-poorest country in the world. The country faces various economic challenges, including limited education and healthcare and poor access.
The Methodology
To determine the 25 poorest countries in the world, we have used data from the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook Database. This data includes the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, adjusted for each country’s purchasing power parity (PPP). The rankings are based on the latest available data as of 2023.
The Poorest Countries 2023 Rankings
- Burundi
- South Sudan
- Malawi
- Central African Republic
- Niger
- Mozambique
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Guinea
- Eritrea
- Burkina Faso
- Sierra Leone
- Afghanistan
- Togo
- Yemen
- Ethiopia
- Gambia
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Zimbabwe
- Haiti
- Rwanda
- Guinea-Bissau
- Comoros
- Chad
- Nepal