The 50 lowest-income nations: 2025 overview of the most economically vulnerable states

A ranking revealed by income per capita data

The global economic landscape shows significant disparities. According to 2025 data on average income per capita, about fifty countries face major economic challenges. These data shed light on global inequalities and the most struggling regions.

Africa: the predominant continent in this ranking

The African situation is particularly concerning. South Sudan ranks the lowest with $251 per capita, followed by Sudan (625 $) and the Congo (2,356 $). Other African nations facing limited incomes include:

• Yemen: $417
• Burundi: $490
• Central African Republic: $532
• Malawi: $580
• Madagascar: $595
• Mozambique: $663
• DRC: $743
• Niger: $751
• Somalia: $766
• Nigeria: $807
• Liberia: $908
• Sierra Leone: $916
• Mali: $936
• Gambia: $988
• Chad: $991
• Rwanda: $1,043
• Togo: $1,053
• Ethiopia: $1,066
• Lesotho: $1,098
• Burkina Faso: $1,107
• Guinea-Bissau: $1,126
• Tanzania: $1,280
• Zambia: $1,332
• Uganda: $1,338
• Benin: $1,532
• Comoros: $1,702
• Senegal: $1,811
• Cameroon: $1,865
• Guinea: $1,904
• Zimbabwe: $2,199
• Kenya: $2,468
• Mauritania: $2,478
• Ghana: $2,519
• Haiti: $2,672
• Ivory Coast: $2,872

Asian and Pacific regions in difficulty

Beyond Africa, other regions also record particularly low income per capita. The affected Asian economies include:

• Myanmar: $1,177
• Tajikistan: $1,432
• Nepal: $1,458
• Timor-Leste: $1,491
• Laos: $2,096
• Cambodia: $2,870
• India: $2,878
• Kyrgyz Republic: $2,747

Pacific archipelagos such as the Solomon Islands (2,379 $) and Kiribati (2,414 $) also appear in this ranking, as does Haiti (2,672 $) in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Global economic challenges

This classification of the 50 poorest countries by GDP per capita highlights persistent structural inequalities. Income per capita in these nations remains dramatically low, revealing challenges in infrastructure, education, and health. These 2025 data serve as an urgent reminder of the importance of economic development efforts and international cooperation to support these struggling nations.