Rwanda has appeared on the list of the 50 poorest countries in the world, based on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, as reported in data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published by Visual Capitalist on June 24, 2025.
This ranking offers insight into the economic structure of countries, particularly highlighting how a nation’s economy translates to the average income of a single citizen annually.
Among the 50 countries, Rwanda’s GDP per capita is $1,237, placing it 43rd globally. Although the country has made strides in sustainable development in recent years, these numbers show there is still a long way to go in improving individual citizens’ living standards.
Here is how the 10 poorest countries rank:
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South Sudan – $251
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Burundi – $490
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Central African Republic – $532
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Malawi – $580
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Madagascar – $595
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Sudan – $625
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Mozambique – $663
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Democratic Republic of Congo – $743
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Niger – $751
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Somalia – $766
As of now, South Sudan is the poorest country in the world, with a GDP per capita of only $251 per year.
The report indicates that insecurity, poor governance, conflict, economic instability, and lack of investment opportunities are major obstacles to development in many of the listed countries, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Many of these nations have large populations but weak economies. For instance, India, the world’s fourth-largest economy overall, ranks 50th in GDP per capita, with only $2,878 per person.
Africa accounts for 19% of the global population, but the combined GDP of all African countries represents only 3% of the world economy, estimated at $113 trillion.
While GDP per capita offers a broad view of economic performance, it does not reflect wealth distribution or quality of life. Some countries may have high GDP per capita figures but also suffer from deep income inequality between the rich and the poor.
