Nigeria has been listed as the 12th poorest country in the world by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita for the year 2025, according to new figures released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and visualised by Visual Capitalist.
In the report published on Tuesday, Nigeria’s GDP per capita stands at $807, placing it among the bottom 15 out of 50 countries analysed.
South Sudan ranks as the poorest nation globally, with a GDP per capita of just $251. It is followed by Yemen, Burundi, the Central African Republic, and Malawi.
Nigeria’s low per capita ranking highlights the widespread economic struggles
While Nigeria remains one of Africa’s biggest economies in terms of total GDP, the low per capita ranking highlights the widespread economic struggles endured by millions of its 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 in its commentary on the findings.
The report also pointed to Africa’s limited representation in global economic output despite its large population. “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,” it noted.
India, despite being the world’s fourth-largest economy by total GDP, appears at the very bottom of the list in 50th place, with a GDP per capita of $2,878.
Other African nations listed among the poorest include Madagascar, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Niger.
