Nigeria, other African nations dominate list of world's 60 poorest countries by GDP per capita

Nigeria and numerous other African nations feature prominently in Global Finance magazine's 2026 ranking of the world's 60 poorest countries, measured by GDP per capita at purchasing power parity.

Burundi holds the lowest GDP per capita at $994.23, closely followed by the Central African Republic ($1,437.72) and South Sudan ($1,467.19). The list reveals that nine of the ten countries with the lowest GDP per capita are in Africa, with Yemen being the sole non-African nation among them.

The ranking underscores the persistent economic difficulties faced by many African countries. For instance, Nigeria, a major economy, is ranked 56th with a GDP per capita of $9,532.92, a notable drop from its 44th position in the 2025 ranking. Other African nations like Niger, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Lesotho also appear in the top 20 lowest-ranked countries.

Beyond the bottom-ranked nations, the data shows a wide disparity across the continent. Countries like Kenya, Zimbabwe, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana are positioned higher, though still facing economic hurdles. The presence of numerous African countries at the lower end of the GDP per capita spectrum serves as a stark indicator of the economic challenges many nations on the continent continue to grapple with.