Nigeria has been ranked the 12th poorest country in the world by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in 2025 — a damning indicator of the deepening poverty crisis in Africa’s most populous nation.
According to new data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), published by Visual Capitalist, Nigeria’s GDP per capita stands at just $807, placing it among the bottom 15 of the 50 poorest countries surveyed globally. This stark figure underscores the widening gulf between the country’s economic potential and the lived realities of its citizens.
Despite boasting one of the largest economies in Africa by total GDP, Nigeria’s low per capita income reveals how wealth is concentrated among a few, while tens of millions struggle daily to survive. The ranking confirms what many Nigerians already feel: that economic growth has not translated into improved living conditions for the majority.
Nigeria’s dismal position comes amid rising inflation, surging food prices, and record unemployment. The country’s minimum wage remains at ₦70,000 (about $45/month), while basic necessities like food, transport, and housing have become unaffordable for many.
“Chronic conflict, fragile institutions, and limited industrial bases continue to suppress income growth in many of them,” Visual Capitalist noted, referring to the nations at the bottom of the ranking, “even as the global economy rebounds after the pandemic.”
South Sudan ranked as the world’s poorest country with a GDP per capita of $251, followed by Yemen, Burundi, the Central African Republic, and Malawi. Other African nations such as Madagascar, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Niger also feature prominently on the list.
The report further highlights Africa’s marginalisation in global economic output. Despite accounting for 19% of the world’s population, the continent represents only 3% of global GDP, currently estimated at $113 trillion.
India, though the world’s fourth-largest economy by total GDP, also appears on the list, ranking 50th with a GDP per capita of $2,878 — showing that scale alone doesn’t ensure widespread prosperity.
Nigeria’s descent into the ranks of the world’s poorest by individual income levels raises urgent questions about leadership, economic management, and the nation’s future. With over 133 million people living in multidimensional poverty — according to earlier government and World Bank data — the country faces a ticking social and economic time bomb.
As poverty deepens, the need for inclusive growth, accountable governance, and genuine structural reform becomes ever more critical — not just to improve Nigeria’s global standing, but to deliver hope to its citizens.
