Who will be among the poorest in the world in 2025? Economic realities behind the numbers

When we talk about which region or population faces the greatest economic hardships globally, the data reveal alarming patterns that go far beyond simple figures. International organizations like the IMF and World Bank constantly update their development indicators, and one metric in particular draws attention: the GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power (PPC), which provides a clear view of living standards and access to resources in different economies.

How to understand global poverty levels?

Measuring a country’s economic development is not arbitrary. The GDP per capita (PPC) functions as a thermometer indicating the average income available to each inhabitant, taking into account local cost of living. Unlike simple comparisons in nominal dollars, this indicator allows assessing the actual purchasing power of populations.

This method is not perfect — it does not reveal internal inequality or the quality of essential services — but remains one of the best tools for comparing prosperity levels between territories with radically different economies. Global institutions rely on this metric because it offers consistency and temporal traceability.

Where are the greatest economic vulnerabilities concentrated?

Analyzing updated data, it is found that economies with the lowest indicators of per capita income are mostly located in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as regions marked by prolonged conflicts outside the African continent. The extreme poverty map reveals a concerning concentration.

Country rankings by GDP per capita (PPC) — 2025

• South Sudan: US$ 960 — the most fragile economy in the world
• Burundi: US$ 1,010 — high dependence on agriculture
• Central African Republic: US$ 1,310 — rich in minerals, poor in institutions
• Malawi: US$ 1,760 — vulnerable to climate shocks
• Mozambique: US$ 1,790 — untapped energy potential
• Somalia: US$ 1,900 — fragmented state
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: US$ 1,910 — incomparable mineral wealth but poorly distributed
• Liberia: US$ 2,000 — slow post-conflict recovery
• Yemen: US$ 2,020 — the only nation outside Africa at the top of the list
• Madagascar: US$ 2,060 — paradox of agricultural potential versus economic reality

These numbers indicate economies operating at critical levels of average annual income.

What explains the persistence of structural poverty?

The factors that keep these nations in vulnerable positions operate in an intertwined manner, creating self-perpetuating cycles that are difficult to break:

Permanent political conflict: Civil wars, military coups, and systematic violence erode public institutions, disperse investments, and degrade fundamental infrastructure. South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, and the Central African Republic exemplify how political instability stifles any possibility of organized economic growth.

Rigid and under-diversified economic structure: Most of these economies still survive on subsistence agriculture or export of unprocessed primary products. Without a consolidated industry or robust service sector, they are completely exposed to international commodity price fluctuations and adverse climate phenomena.

Critical deficiencies in human capital: Poor education, collapsing public health, and inadequate sanitation result in populations with low productivity. This creates an ever-widening gap compared to economies investing in their people — the distance grows with each generation.

Unfavorable demographic dynamics: When populations grow faster than the economy can expand, the inevitable result is that GDP per capita stagnates or contracts, even if total GDP increases nominally.

Individual diagnoses: why does each economy suffer?

South Sudan — the worst scenario: Despite significant oil reserves, the lack of political stability since independence prevents this wealth from translating into social benefits. Ongoing conflict diverts public resources to defense, leaving education and infrastructure at the mercy.

Burundi — rural trap: Predominantly agricultural economy with low productivity, intensified by decades of instability. Its human development index ranks among the worst globally.

Central African Republic — mineral paradox: Abundance of gold, diamonds, and other resources contrasts radically with internal conflicts, forced population displacements, and collapse of basic services that prevent converting natural wealth into development.

Malawi — climate suspicion: Extremely vulnerable agricultural economy to climate variations and periodic droughts, with minimal industrialization and rapid population growth that further pressures per capita income.

Mozambique — unrealized potential: Despite considerable energy and mineral reserves, it remains trapped in structural poverty, regional tensions, and failure to diversify its productive economic base.

Somalia — state fragmentation: After decades of civil war, it lacks functional state institutions, faces chronic food insecurity, and has an economy dominated by informal, undocumented activities.

Democratic Republic of the Congo — resource curse: Vast reserves of copper, gold, coltan, and diamonds coexist with armed conflict, systemic corruption, and poor governance that prevent natural wealth from transforming the reality of populations.

Liberia — scars of war: Prolonged legacies of civil conflict continue to impact economic recovery, combined with rudimentary infrastructure and weak industrialization.

Yemen — conflict exception: The only non-African nation on this ranking, facing one of the worst contemporary humanitarian disasters due to the civil war started in 2014, which has completely disrupted economic activity.

Madagascar — economic isolation: Despite considerable agricultural potential and tourist attractions, it suffers from recurring political instability, rural predominance, and reduced urban economic productivity.

What does the ranking reveal about global dynamics?

Identifying who is among the most vulnerable populations worldwide goes beyond simply cataloging poor countries. These data expose how political violence, institutional fragility, and insufficient investments in human development create long-term traps.

The geographic concentration in Sub-Saharan Africa reflects legacies of colonialism, arbitrary borders, resource exploitation, and difficulty in building solid institutions post-independence. Outside the continent, cases like Yemen demonstrate how contemporary wars can rapidly disintegrate economies.

Understanding these global economic realities — including how different regions of the planet deal with severe vulnerability — offers crucial perspective for anyone interested in understanding the contemporary geopolitical and economic landscape.