I took a look at the per capita GDP figures for 2025, and it's crazy to see the gap. South Sudan is really at the bottom of the scale with only $251, which would make it the poorest country in the world according to this metric. Just after, Yemen at $417 and Burundi at $490 complete this unflattering top 3.

What struck me is that most of these countries among the poorest are concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa. DRC, Niger, Somalia, Nigeria—all below $1,000. Even Rwanda and Ethiopia, which have a bit more economic momentum, barely top $1,000.

Looking further down the ranking, countries like Bangladesh, India, and Cambodia don't do much better, between $2,600 and $2,900. This really shows the extent of global economic disparities. The world's poorest countries still have decades of catch-up ahead to reach a decent standard of living.