19 of the 20 countries with the lowest estimated GDP per capita in the world in 2024 are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. South Sudan is believed to have a GDP per capita of just 351.02 U.S. dollars - for reference, Luxembourg has the highest GDP per capita in the world, at almost 130,000 U.S. dollars, which is around 400 times larger than that of Burundi (U.S. GDP per capita is over 250 times higher than Burundi's). Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa Many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa have been among the most impoverished in the world for over a century, due to lacking nutritional and sanitation infrastructures, persistent conflict, and political instability. These issues are also being exacerbated by climate change, where African nations are some of the most vulnerable in the world, as well as the population boom that will place over the 21st century. Of course, the entire population of Sub-Saharan Africa does not live in poverty, and countries in the southern part of the continent, as well as oil-producing states around the Gulf of Guinea, do have some pockets of significant wealth (especially in urban areas). However, while GDP per capita may be higher in these countries, wealth distribution is often very skewed, and GDP per capita figures are not representative of average living standards across the population. Outside of Africa Yemen is the only country outside of Africa to feature on the list, due to decades of civil war and instability. Yemen lags very far behind some of its neighboring Arab states, some of whom rank among the richest in the world due to their much larger energy sectors. Additionally, the IMF does not make estimates for Afghanistan, which would also likely feature on this list.
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The average for 2024 based on 177 countries was 27291 U.S. dollars. The highest value was in Singapore: 132570 U.S. dollars and the lowest value was in Burundi: 836 U.S. dollars. The indicator is available from 1990 to 2024. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.
The statistic displays the global gross domestic product (GDP) per capita from 2014 to 2024. GDP refers to the total market value of all goods and services that are produced within a country per year. It is an important indicator of the economic strength of a country. In 2024, global GDP per capita amounted to about 13,673 U.S. dollars. Gross domestic product and global economy The global economy suffered a major impact with the global financial crisis of 2008 but after a drop in global gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in 2009, the global economy recovered and reached record-high GDP per capita prices in 2013. Global GDP per capita has doubled over the past decade. Gross domestic product of industrial countries and emerging and developing countries combined is greater than GDP of all the other selected global regions combined, indicating economic prosperity and recovery despite some financial backsets. In the main industrialized and emerging countries, gross domestic product per capita is highest for the United States, followed by Germany and France. In the European Union, despite the financial crisis of 2008, GDP per capita has improved significantly. Another member of the European Union, Luxembourg, even reports the largest GDP per capita worldwide, followed by non-EU members Norway and Qatar.
In 2025, Luxembourg was the country with the highest gross domestic product per capita in the world. Of the 20 listed countries, 13 are in Europe and five are in Asia, alongside the U.S. and Australia. There are no African or Latin American countries among the top 20. Correlation with high living standards While GDP is a useful indicator for measuring the size or strength of an economy, GDP per capita is much more reflective of living standards. For example, when compared to life expectancy or indices such as the Human Development Index or the World Happiness Report, there is a strong overlap - 14 of the 20 countries on this list are also ranked among the 20 happiest countries in 2024, and all 20 have "very high" HDIs. Misleading metrics? GDP per capita figures, however, can be misleading, and to paint a fuller picture of a country's living standards then one must look at multiple metrics. GDP per capita figures can be skewed by inequalities in wealth distribution, and in countries such as those in the Middle East, a relatively large share of the population lives in poverty while a smaller number live affluent lifestyles.
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GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) in World was reported at 24248 USD in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. World - GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.
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The average for 2024 based on 178 countries was 15841.4 U.S. dollars. The highest value was in Bermuda: 117661.27 U.S. dollars and the lowest value was in Burundi: 255.6 U.S. dollars. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2024. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.
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Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is a crucial economic indicator that represents the average economic output per person in a given country or region. It is calculated by dividing the total GDP by the population size. This metric is often used to compare the economic performance of different countries and assess the relative prosperity of their citizens. Two commonly used versions of this indicator are GDP per capita at current prices and GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP). GDP per capita at current prices reflects the total economic output of a country divided by its population, using the market prices of goods and services at the time of measurement. This metric provides a snapshot of the economic activity within a country without adjusting for inflation or differences in the cost of living across regions. Global GDP per capita at current prices (PPP) provides a measure of the average economic output per person, adjusted for the differences in the cost of living between countries. This adjustment allows for a more accurate comparison of living standards and economic productivity across different nations.
In 1820, Western Europe was the region with the highest GDP per capita, however the non-European developed countries of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand saw their average GDP per capita grow much higher by the outbreak of the First World War. These developed nations and Europe were the only regions where GDP per capita was higher than the global average, while all other regions were below (although Latin America did have an above average GDP in 1820).
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GDP per capita (current US$) in World was reported at 13673 USD in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. World - GDP per capita - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.
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The average for 2024 based on 58 countries was 58042 U.S. dollars. The highest value was in Singapore: 132570 U.S. dollars and the lowest value was in Barbados: 19946 U.S. dollars. The indicator is available from 1990 to 2024. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.
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Key information about China GDP Per Capita
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This dataset provides values for GDP PER CAPITA PPP reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.
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The Gross Domestic Product per capita in Jordan was last recorded at 4016.83 US dollars in 2024. The GDP per Capita in Jordan is equivalent to 32 percent of the world's average. This dataset provides - Jordan GDP per capita - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.
This statistic shows the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in selected world regions in 2024. In North America, the gross domestic product per capita in 2024 amounted to approximately 82,406.48 U.S. dollars.
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Graph and download economic data for Gross Domestic Product Per Capita for Least Developed Countries (NYGDPPCAPCDLDC) from 1960 to 2024 about per capita and GDP.
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Key information about Portugal GDP Per Capita
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The Gross Domestic Product per capita in China was last recorded at 13121.68 US dollars in 2024. The GDP per Capita in China is equivalent to 104 percent of the world's average. This dataset provides - China GDP per capita - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.
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GDP per capita growth (annual %) in World was reported at 1.8895 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. World - GDP per capita growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.
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Graph and download economic data for Constant GDP per capita for the World (NYGDPPCAPKDWLD) from 1960 to 2024 about World, per capita, real, and GDP.
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The Gross Domestic Product per capita in South Korea was last recorded at 34121.02 US dollars in 2023. The GDP per Capita in South Korea is equivalent to 270 percent of the world's average. This dataset provides - South Korea GDP per capita - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.
19 of the 20 countries with the lowest estimated GDP per capita in the world in 2024 are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. South Sudan is believed to have a GDP per capita of just 351.02 U.S. dollars - for reference, Luxembourg has the highest GDP per capita in the world, at almost 130,000 U.S. dollars, which is around 400 times larger than that of Burundi (U.S. GDP per capita is over 250 times higher than Burundi's). Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa Many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa have been among the most impoverished in the world for over a century, due to lacking nutritional and sanitation infrastructures, persistent conflict, and political instability. These issues are also being exacerbated by climate change, where African nations are some of the most vulnerable in the world, as well as the population boom that will place over the 21st century. Of course, the entire population of Sub-Saharan Africa does not live in poverty, and countries in the southern part of the continent, as well as oil-producing states around the Gulf of Guinea, do have some pockets of significant wealth (especially in urban areas). However, while GDP per capita may be higher in these countries, wealth distribution is often very skewed, and GDP per capita figures are not representative of average living standards across the population. Outside of Africa Yemen is the only country outside of Africa to feature on the list, due to decades of civil war and instability. Yemen lags very far behind some of its neighboring Arab states, some of whom rank among the richest in the world due to their much larger energy sectors. Additionally, the IMF does not make estimates for Afghanistan, which would also likely feature on this list.