Nigeria has dropped 12 places to 56th among the world’s 60 lowest-ranked countries by GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP), according to a 2026 ranking by Global Finance magazine.
Nigeria recorded a GDP per capita of $9,532.92, compared with its 44th position in the 2025 ranking. The latest ranking places Africa at the centre of the lower end of the global table, with nine of the 10 countries at the bottom located on the continent.
GDP per capita at purchasing power parity adjusts economic output for differences in the cost of living and inflation between countries. It is commonly used to compare purchasing power and relative living standards across economies.
Burundi ranked lowest, with GDP-PPP per capita of $994.23, followed by the Central African Republic at $1,437.72 and South Sudan at $1,467.19.
Yemen, ranked fourth at $1,590.19, was the only non-African country among the 10 lowest-ranked economies. It was followed by Mozambique, Malawi, Somalia, Liberia, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Nigeria’s position also contrasts with several other African economies. Niger ranked 11th at $2,108.46, followed by Sudan at 13th with $2,427.43 and Burkina Faso at 16th with $3,060.34.
Other African countries among the 60 included Lesotho, Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Togo, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Comoros, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, Guinea, Benin, Senegal, Cameroon, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mauritania, Djibouti and Angola.
Kenya ranked 44th with $7,590.60, Zimbabwe 46th with $7,985.23, Côte d’Ivoire 48th with $8,165.34, Ghana 51st with $8,613.25, Mauritania 52nd with $8,831.81, Djibouti 55th with $9,435.70, while Angola ranked 59th with $10,274.90.
The figures also show notable movements from the previous ranking. Burundi moved from second place in 2025 to the bottom position in 2026, while South Sudan fell from first to third. The Democratic Republic of the Congo moved from seventh to 10th, while Nigeria fell from 44th to 56th.
The ranking highlights the concentration of low GDP-PPP per capita economies in Africa, reflecting the continent’s continuing economic challenges, although GDP per capita alone does not capture the full picture of poverty, inequality or household living standards.
Full 2026 Ranking
- Burundi — $994.23
- Central African Republic — $1,437.72
- South Sudan — $1,467.19
- Yemen — $1,590.19
- Mozambique — $1,688.91
- Malawi — $1,758.03
- Somalia — $1,905.21
- Liberia — $1,979.42
- Madagascar — $2,030.36
- Democratic Republic of the Congo — $2,032.68
- Niger — $2,108.46
- Afghanistan — $2,304.07
- Sudan — $2,427.43
- Solomon Islands — $2,595.87
- Haiti — $2,999.44
- Burkina Faso — $3,060.34
- Lesotho — $3,211.83
- Chad — $3,284.18
- Guinea-Bissau — $3,304.84
- Mali — $3,480.41
- Togo — $3,563.31
- The Gambia — $3,664.60
- Sierra Leone — $3,709.84
- Kiribati — $3,755.66
- Papua New Guinea — $3,813.37
- Uganda — $3,923.83
- Vanuatu — $3,938.10
- Comoros — $4,031.17
- Rwanda — $4,190.43
- Tanzania — $4,354.57
- Zambia — $4,380.77
- Ethiopia — $4,498.55
- Guinea — $4,746.77
- Benin — $4,758.22
- Myanmar — $5,047.32
- Timor-Leste — $5,060.22
- Senegal — $5,440.63
- Cameroon — $5,782.69
- Tajikistan — $6,167.47
- Nepal — $6,181.13
- São Tomé and Príncipe — $6,434.97
- Republic of Congo — $6,522.84
- Pakistan — $7,014.24
- Kenya — $7,590.60
- Honduras — $7,863.96
- Zimbabwe — $7,985.23
- Tonga — $8,044.12
- Côte d’Ivoire — $8,165.34
- Cambodia — $8,403.27
- Samoa — $8,427.34
- Ghana — $8,613.25
- Mauritania — $8,831.81
- Venezuela — $8,910.60
- Kyrgyz Republic — $9,371.04
- Djibouti — $9,435.70
- Nigeria — $9,532.92
- Nicaragua — $9,765.25
- Bangladesh — $10,271.28
- Angola — $10,274.90
- Laos — $10,379.98
