Richest Countries in the World: When you think of the wealthiest countries in the world, you are probably considering GDP per capita. In this article, we list the top 10 richest countries based on GDP per capita, as estimated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, if you are looking for the GDP per capita of China or the US, this list may surprise you, as the countries that emerge on top are some of the smallest on the map.
Methodology for ranking richest countries in the world
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the total value of goods and services produced in a country. By dividing this number by the number of full-time residents, we get an idea of the general populace’s wealth. However, a more precise measure of a nation’s wealth considers inflation rates and the costs of local products and services.
By considering both factors, we derive the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). While this may still not be absolute statistics to accurately rank the richest and poorest countries in the world (as some wealthy countries are tax havens, artificially inflating their GDPs with external wealth), the GDP per capita ranking (accounting for PPP) still gets us close to understanding the wealth held by various nations.
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Top 10 richest countries by GDP per capita ranking 2025
When you go by GDP per capita PPP, these 10 countries come up as the richest as of January 2025:
| Country | GDP-PPP per capita (in USD) | Annual GDP growth rate |
Continent |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Luxembourg | 154,910 | 2.7% | Europe |
| #2 Singapore | 153,610 | 2.5% | Asia |
| #3 Macao SAR | 140,250 | 7.3% | Asia |
| #4 Ireland | 131,550 | 2.2% | Europe |
| #5 Qatar | 118,760 | 1.9% | Asia |
| #6 Norway | 106,540 | 1.8% | Europe |
| #7 Switzerland | 98,140 | 1.3% | Europe |
| #8 Brunei Darussalam | 95,040 | 2.5% | Asia |
| #9 Guyana | 91,380 | 14.4% | South America |
| #10 United States | 89,680 | 2.2% | North America |
While smaller countries like Luxembourg and Singapore benefit from well-regulated financial sectors and tax regimes ideal for foreign investments into their economies, bigger and more powerful countries like the US and China rank lower in the list of richest economies.
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Richest countries (by GDP per capita): Rank 11 to 20
| Country | GDP-PPP per capita (in USD) | Annual GDP growth |
Continent |
|---|---|---|---|
| #11 Denmark | 85,790 | 1.6% | Europe |
| #12 Netherlands | 83,820 | 1.6% | Europe |
| #13 Taiwan | 82,610 | 2.7% | Asia |
| #14 San Marino | 82,580 | 1.3% | Europe |
| #15 United Arab Emirates | 82,000 | 5.1% | Asia |
| #16 Iceland | 80,320 | 2.4% | Europe |
| #17 Hong Kong SAR | 78,720 | 3% | Asia |
| #18 Malta | 75,820 | 4% | Europe |
| #19 Belgium | 75,190 | 1.2% | Europe |
| #20 Austria | 74,98 | 1.1% | Europe |
Now, let’s explore each of the top 10 more closely.
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A closer look:Â Top 10 richest countries by GDP per capita ranking 2025
While we know the GDP per capita country-wise for them, let’s see why the top 10 economies from the list above became the richest in the world:
1. Luxembourg
- GDP: $91.21 billion
- Share of the world’s GDP based on PPP: 0.05%
- Population: 675 thousand
Luxembourg, with its high GDP per capita and strong financial sector, is the richest country in the world. The nation is known for using its wealth to ensure better living standards, healthcare, and education for its populace. Additionally, Luxembourg is one of the world’s top tourist destinations, famed for its idyllic castles, abundant greenery, and picturesque canals. It is also one of the first countries to provide free public transport and boasts the highest minimum wage in the world.
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2. Singapore
- GDP: $530.71 billion
- Share of the world’s GDP based on PPP: 0.45%
- Population: 5.8 million
Singapore is one of the world’s biggest hubs for businesses and trading centres. The nation has many high-net-worth individuals among its population. The economy has taken a few consecutive hits in recent years, with the pandemic at first and then the Chinese sputtering economy a crucial trading partner for Singapore’s manufacturing sector.
3. Macao SAR
- GDP: $53.45 billion
- Share of the world’s GDP based on PPP: 0.05
- Population: 720 thousand
Macao SAR is a special administrative region of China, and its wealth primarily comes from its over 40 casinos, making it one of the world’s top travel destinations. Macao was the first and last European colony in Asia. Despite taking a tremendous hit during the COVID-19 crisis due to travel restrictions and frequent lockdowns, the economy is rapidly recovering thanks to its distinct capitalist approach, which differs from mainland China’s laws.
4. Ireland
- GDP: $560.57 billion
- Share of the world’s GDP based on PPP: 0.35%
- Population: 5.2 million
After the great financial crisis of 2008, Ireland put a lot of effort into reforming its banking industry. It initiated measures like cuts to public-sector wages to get its economy where it is today. Further, Ireland is one of the largest corporate tax havens in the world, with multinational companies (such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft) adding over 50 percent to the Irish economy in recent years.
5. Qatar
- GDP: $221.41 billion
- Share of the world’s GDP based on PPP: 0.18%
- Population: 3.07 million
Qatar (and also the UAE) are on this list of the top 10 economies by GDP per capita ranking for 2025 benefit largely from their reserves of natural resources. Qatar has the third-largest reserves of gas in the world. Qatar’s oil and natural gas reserves are significantly huge compared to its population, contributing to its high ranking among the richest countries. Qatar is also increasing its economy in other sectors like hosting FIFA 2022 gave a huge boost to Qatar’s tourism and economy.
6. Norway
- GDP: $503.75 billion
- Share of the world’s GDP based on PPP: 0.29%
- Population: 5.51 million
Norway is again a top petroleum provider in the Western European territories. The country has made good financial progress after the economy crashed during the Covid-19 crisis. Further, Norway has a $1.3 trillion sovereign wealth fund to deal with any crises urgently, which also happens to be the largest of its kind in the world.
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7. Switzerland
- GDP: $942.27 billion
- Share of the world’s GDP based on PPP: 0.43%
- Population: 8.9 million
One of the biggest tourist hotspots globally, Switzerland also has a bustling financial sector. The country further benefits from exports of precious metals, precision instruments, and machinery like computers and medical devices. About 74 percent of the Swiss GDP comes from the services sector and 25 percent from industry, with less than one percent from the agricultural sector. Switzerland further has the lowest VAT rate in Europe
8. Brunei Darussalam
- GDP: $15.71 trillion
- Share of the world’s GDP based on PPP: 0.02%
- Population: 458 thousand
Brunei Darussalam is a small, wealthy nation on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, bordered by Malaysia and the South China Sea. Known for its rich reserves of oil and natural gas, Brunei has second-highest Human Development Index among Southeast Asian nations. The country is an Islamic monarchy, ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world’s longest-reigning and wealthiest monarchs. Its capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, features notable landmarks like the opulent Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. Brunei maintains a peaceful, conservative culture with strong emphasis on traditional Islamic values.
9. Guyana
- GDP: $123 billion
- Share of the World’s GDP based on PPP: 0.04%
- Population: 831 thousand
A small country on the nothern coast of South America, Guyana is considered a part of the historic mainland British West Indies and it is also a part of Commonwealth Carribean. It is the only mainland South American country where English is the official language. Guyana’s economic rise began after the discovery of crude oil in 2015. The discovery of over 11 billion barrels of oil reserves off the coast of Guyana since 2017 is the largest addition to global oil reserves since the 1970s. Commercial drilling began in 2019.
10. United States
- GDP: $29.17 trillion
- Share of the world’s GDP based on PPP: 14.84%
- Population: 335 million
If you were wondering about the GDP per capita of the US, the country definitely makes it to the list of the top 10 economies by GDP per capita PPP, albeit at one of the lower ranks. Along with being a dominant economic entity, America is also bolstered by its military capabilities.
FAQs
1. What is the GDP per capita ranking of India?
As of January 2025, India’s GDP per capita is $2,940 (Nominal) and $11,940 (PPP). In the GDP per capita ranking for 2025, India stands at the 124th position out of approximately 200 countries. In terms of overall GDP rankings, India ranks 5th in the world, following the USA, China, Germany, and Japan.
2. Which country has the lowest GDP per capita?
According to the GDP per capita ranking 2025, South Sudan has a GDP per capita (PPP) of $960.24, making it the poorest country in the world.
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