Nigeria and several other African countries have featured prominently among the world’s 60 poorest nations in a 2026 ranking based on GDP per capita at purchasing power parity.
The ranking, compiled by Global Finance, measures GDP per capita using purchasing power parity, which adjusts for differences in living costs and inflation across countries.
Burundi ranked as the poorest country on the list, with a GDP per capita of $994.23. The Central African Republic followed with $1,437.72, while South Sudan ranked third with $1,467.19.
Nine of the 10 lowest-ranked countries were in Africa, with Yemen the only non-African country among them.
The 10 countries at the bottom of the ranking were Burundi, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Yemen, Mozambique, Malawi, Somalia, Liberia, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Nigeria ranked 56th, with a GDP per capita of $9,532.92, dropping from 44th position in the 2025 ranking.
The list highlights the continued economic challenges facing several African countries, which accounted for the majority of nations among the world’s 60 lowest-ranked economies by GDP per capita at purchasing power parity.
Niger ranked 11th with $2,108.46, followed by Sudan in 13th place at $2,427.43 and Burkina Faso in 16th position with $3,060.34.
Other African countries on the list included Lesotho, Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Togo, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Comoros, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, Guinea and Benin.
Senegal ranked 37th with $5,440.63, while Cameroon placed 38th with $5,782.69.
Kenya ranked 44th with a GDP per capita of $7,590.60, followed by Zimbabwe in 46th place with $7,985.23.
Côte d’Ivoire placed 48th with $8,165.34, Ghana ranked 51st with $8,613.25, Mauritania came 52nd with $8,831.81, while Djibouti ranked 55th with $9,435.70.
Nigeria was followed by Nicaragua, Bangladesh, Angola and Laos, which occupied the final positions on the list.
Outside Africa, the ranking included Yemen, Afghanistan, Solomon Islands, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Tajikistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Honduras, Tonga, Cambodia, Samoa, Venezuela, Kyrgyz Republic, Nicaragua, Bangladesh and Laos.
The latest ranking also showed notable changes from 2025. Burundi moved from second to first position, while South Sudan dropped from first to third.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo moved from seventh to 10th, while Nigeria fell 12 places from 44th to 56th.
Full List of the World’s 60 Poorest Countries by GDP Per Capita
- Burundi — $994.23
- Central African Republic — $1,437.72
- South Sudan — $1,467.19
- Yemen — $1,590.19
- Mozambique — $1,688.91
- Malawi — $1,758.03
- Somalia — $1,905.21
- Liberia — $1,979.42
- Madagascar — $2,030.36
- Democratic Republic of the Congo — $2,032.68
- Niger — $2,108.46
- Afghanistan — $2,304.07
- Sudan — $2,427.43
- Solomon Islands — $2,595.87
- Haiti — $2,999.44
- Burkina Faso — $3,060.34
- Lesotho — $3,211.83
- Chad — $3,284.18
- Guinea-Bissau — $3,304.84
- Mali — $3,480.41
- Togo — $3,563.31
- The Gambia — $3,664.60
- Sierra Leone — $3,709.84
- Kiribati — $3,755.66
- Papua New Guinea — $3,813.37
- Uganda — $3,923.83
- Vanuatu — $3,938.10
- Comoros — $4,031.17
- Rwanda — $4,190.43
- Tanzania — $4,354.57
- Zambia — $4,380.77
- Ethiopia — $4,498.55
- Guinea — $4,746.77
- Benin — $4,758.22
- Myanmar — $5,047.32
- Timor-Leste — $5,060.22
- Senegal — $5,440.63
- Cameroon — $5,782.69
- Tajikistan — $6,167.47
- Nepal — $6,181.13
- São Tomé and Príncipe — $6,434.97
- Republic of Congo — $6,522.84
- Pakistan — $7,014.24
- Kenya — $7,590.60
- Honduras — $7,863.96
- Zimbabwe — $7,985.23
- Tonga — $8,044.12
- Côte d’Ivoire — $8,165.34
- Cambodia — $8,403.27
- Samoa — $8,427.34
- Ghana — $8,613.25
- Mauritania — $8,831.81
- Venezuela — $8,910.60
- Kyrgyz Republic — $9,371.04
- Djibouti — $9,435.70
- Nigeria — $9,532.92
- Nicaragua — $9,765.25
- Bangladesh — $10,271.28
- Angola — $10,274.90
- Laos — $10,379.98
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