Nigeria and several other African countries are among the world’s 60 poorest economies according to a 2026 Global Finance ranking [1], [2].
These rankings highlight the systemic economic challenges facing the continent, where low output per person limits the ability of governments to provide essential services and infrastructure.
The list measures wealth using GDP per capita at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for the cost of living and inflation rates in different countries [1], [2]. Nigeria ranks 56th in this global list of the 60 poorest nations [1].
African nations dominate the bottom of the economic scale. According to the data, nine of the 10 poorest countries in the world are located in Africa [4]. This concentration underscores a significant regional disparity in global wealth distribution.
Burundi is among the lowest-ranking nations, with a GDP per capita (PPP) of $994.23 [4]. The prevalence of African nations in these lower tiers reflects a broader trend of limited economic growth relative to population size across the region.
Global Finance provides these rankings to track how nations perform in terms of individual economic productivity. The inclusion of Nigeria, one of the largest economies on the continent by total GDP, in the list of the 60 poorest nations highlights the gap between total national wealth and the actual wealth available per citizen [1], [2].
“Nine of the 10 poorest countries in the world are located in Africa”
The disparity between Nigeria's total GDP and its per capita ranking illustrates the 'resource curse' or the challenge of distributing national wealth across a massive population. While a country may possess significant total economic output, a low PPP per capita indicates that the average citizen lives in poverty, limiting the overall quality of life and economic mobility within the region.
