Nigeria now among World’s 60 poorest countries as GDP per Capita slumps to $9,532b in 2026 ranking

Nigeria has dropped to 56th position among the world’s 60 poorest countries in the 2026 ranking by Global Finance magazine, based on GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP).

The ranking puts Nigeria’s GDP per capita at $9,532.92, compared with its 44th position in the 2025 edition, indicating a significant decline in its standing.

Burundi emerged as the poorest country on the list, with a GDP per capita of $994.23, followed by the Central African Republic at $1,437.72 and South Sudan at $1,467.19.

Nine of the 10 countries at the bottom of the ranking are African, with Yemen being the only non-African country in the bottom 10.

The 10 poorest countries were:

1. Burundi — $994.23

2. Central African Republic — $1,437.72

3. South Sudan — $1,467.19

4. Yemen — $1,590.19

5. Mozambique — $1,688.91

6. Malawi — $1,758.03

7. Somalia — $1,905.21

8. Liberia — $1,979.42

9. Madagascar — $2,030.36

10. Democratic Republic of the Congo — $2,032.68

Nigeria’s position places it above countries such as Niger, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana and Kenya, but below Angola and Laos.

Other African countries included in the ranking were Niger at 11th with $2,108.46, Sudan at 13th with $2,427.43, Burkina Faso at 16th with $3,060.34, Chad at 18th with $3,284.18, Mali at 20th with $3,480.41 and Sierra Leone at 23rd with $3,709.84.

Ghana ranked 51st with $8,613.25, while Kenya occupied 44th position with $7,590.60. Côte d’Ivoire ranked 48th with $8,165.34.

The ranking is based on GDP per capita at purchasing power parity, which adjusts economic output for differences in the cost of living and inflation between countries.

Nigeria’s movement from 44th in 2025 to 56th in 2026 represents one of the notable changes in the ranking. Burundi moved from second place to first, while South Sudan fell from first to third.

The figures highlight the persistent economic challenges facing many African countries, with the continent accounting for the overwhelming majority of nations at the bottom of the global GDP-per-capita ranking.

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