World's Top 20 Poorest Economies in 2025
Sub-Saharan Africa continues to dominate the list of poorest countries
When looking at our Consensus Forecasts for the economies with the lowest GDP per capita (in U.S. dollars, current market prices) in 2025, one thing jumps out: 19 of the 20 poorest are from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The only non-African nation in the top 20 is the conflict-riven, internationally isolated country of Afghanistan. Though SSA has been the second-fastest growing economic region after Asia in recent years, exceedingly high population growth—over 2% per annum—means that GDP per capita has risen far slower. Moreover, factors such as extreme weather, political turmoil—the continent has experienced nine coups since 2020—and insecurity continue to stop SSA from reaching its full potential.??
1st poorest country: Afghanistan?
GDP per capita 2025 Consensus Forecast: USD 434 Afghanistan's poverty stems from decades of conflict, including foreign invasions, civil wars, and insurgencies. Continuous instability has ravaged infrastructure, undermined institutional development, and deterred foreign investment. The productivity of the agricultural sector, on which most Afghans rely, is low due to outdated farming practices, water scarcity, and land degradation. Widespread corruption and a weak central government further hamper development, with the economy remaining heavily dependent on international aid. Additionally, the Taliban's return to power in 2021 has led to the isolation of Afghanistan from global markets and financial systems, stifling the economy and exacerbating humanitarian crises. Our panelists expect only muted GDP growth next year, notwithstanding some support from infrastructure projects linking Afghanistan to Central Asian neighbors.??
2nd poorest country: South Sudan?
GDP per capita 2025 Consensus Forecast: USD 448 South Sudan's poverty is tied to its protracted civil war, which erupted soon after the country gained independence in 2011. The violence displaced millions, destroyed infrastructure and disrupted agriculture, the backbone of the economy. In addition, mismanagement, corruption, and conflict over oil fields have led to inconsistent production and income of petroleum, South Sudan’s main revenue source. Ethnic divisions and fragile political institutions, high inflation, food insecurity, and a lack of education and healthcare further contribute to the country's underdevelopment. A civil war in neighboring Sudan is causing further havoc, with South Sudanese oil exports being shut in due to a pipeline being ruptured in Sudan in early 2024. Our Consensus is for the country’s GDP growth to roughly track the SSA average in the coming years, which will be insufficient to lift the country notably up the GDP per capita rankings.??
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3rd poorest country: Sierra Leone?
GDP per capita 2025 Consensus Forecast: USD 529 Sierra Leone's underdevelopment is rooted in the aftermath of its brutal 1991–2002 civil war, which decimated infrastructure and strangled economic activity. Although rich in diamonds, resource mismanagement and corruption have prevented the economic returns from mining reaching the broader population. The country also suffers from poor governance and a fragile healthcare system, which was further strained by the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak. Agriculture, the primary livelihood for many, remains unproductive due to outdated techniques and low investment.??
4th poorest country: Malawi?
GDP per capita 2025 Consensus Forecast: USD 552 Malawi’s poverty is driven by its dependence on subsistence agriculture, with this activity involving the majority of the population. Extreme climate events—including frequent droughts and floods—regularly disrupt crop yields, exacerbating food insecurity. The most recent of these was the El Ni?o weather phenomenon, which caused exceedingly dry weather in 2024. Limited industrialization, creaking infrastructure, and an education system that struggles to equip the workforce with marketable skills further stifle economic growth. Additionally, Malawi's landlocked geography makes trade expensive and hinders access to global markets. Government inefficiencies, corruption, and high population growth further compound these issues. Substantial financial support from foreign creditors provides the economy with a lifeline but has also led to external debt accumulation; Malawi has been in debt default since 2022.??
5th poorest country: Madagascar?
GDP per capita 2025 Consensus Forecast: USD 577 Madagascar’s low GDP per capita is tied to multiple factors. Firstly, chronic political crises, including coups and contested elections, have weakened institutions and handicapped development efforts. Secondly, deforestation and unsustainable farming practices have degraded the country's biodiversity, reducing agricultural productivity and increasing vulnerability to natural disasters like cyclones. Thirdly, Madagascar’s geographical isolation from major markets, combined with poor infrastructure, makes trade and investment difficult. Finally, a reliance on low-productivity agriculture and the limited diversification of industries have kept the economy stagnant: Just four goods—cloves, cobalt, nickel and vanilla—account for close to half of all goods exports. The upshot is that nearly 80% of the population lived in extreme poverty (that is, had income of less than USD 2.15 per day) in 2023—the highest rate in the world.??
You can find the full list of the top 20 and more details on our website:?https://www.focus-economics.com/?p=63802&preview=true