A recent report by Visual Capitalist, using International Monetary Fund (IMF) data, has ranked Nigeria as the 12th poorest country in the world based on GDP per capita in 2025.
The report, which surveyed 189 countries, placed Nigeria at 178th with a GDP per capita of just $807.
Despite having one of the largest economies in Africa by total GDP, Nigeria’s economic output per citizen remains alarmingly low.
Nigeria’s ranking highlights the burden of its massive population on economic output per individual.
According to the report, “Nigeria is another less dramatic example of large economy whose population brings down its GDP per capita.”
This means that while the country generates significant total GDP, the value shared among its citizens remains very small.
Experts say this imbalance contributes to widespread poverty and underdevelopment across key sectors like health, education, and infrastructure.
The country continues to struggle with slow job creation and low household income amid rising inflation.
Conflict and Fragile Institutions Suppressing Growth
The report linked Nigeria’s poor showing to weak governance and continued insecurity.
Visual Capitalist stated, “Chronic conflict, fragile institutions, and limited industrial bases continue to suppress income growth in many of them.”
This observation reflects concerns among local analysts about Nigeria’s failure to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many regions in the country still face violent conflict, low investor confidence, and declining agricultural output.
These issues make it hard for economic growth to improve the standard of living for ordinary citizens.
Other Poorest Countries and Data Gaps
South Sudan topped the global poverty list with a GDP per capita of just $251.
It was followed by Yemen, Burundi, Central African Republic, and Malawi.
India, though a top-four economy by overall GDP, was ranked 50th poorest by GDP per capita at $2,878.
The report noted, “India is the 50th poorest by GDP per capita at $2,878, a rare case of a global top five economy by GDP having low levels of individual productivity.”
Other African countries ranked low include Madagascar, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Niger.
The report also mentioned the absence of reliable GDP data for several countries, including Afghanistan, Eritrea, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syria, and Palestine.
Nigeria’s poor ranking, a wake-up call to Nigeria’s ruling class, demands attention to urgent reforms needed to grow the economy inclusively and reduce income inequality.
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