Nigeria has been ranked the 12th poorest country in the world by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in 2025, according to new data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published by Visual Capitalist.
The report places Nigeria’s GDP per capita at $807, positioning it among the bottom 15 of the 50 countries assessed. This ranking highlights the stark economic disparity in a country that remains one of Africa’s largest economies by total GDP.
South Sudan tops the list as the world’s poorest country, with a GDP per capita of $251, followed by Yemen, Burundi, the Central African Republic, and Malawi. Other African nations appearing in the lowest rankings include Madagascar, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Niger.
Despite Nigeria’s economic scale, the report draws attention to the severe hardship faced by many citizens. “Chronic conflict, fragile institutions, and limited industrial bases continue to suppress income growth in many of them, even as the global economy rebounds after the pandemic,” Visual Capitalist stated.
The analysis also noted Africa’s marginal role in the global economy relative to its population size. “Africa in particular, is heavily underrepresented on the world stage. It accounts for 19% of the global population and only 3% of the $113 trillion world economy,” the report added.
India, the world’s fourth-largest economy by total GDP, also made the list, ranking 50th with a GDP per capita of $2,878.
