ECONOMY

The 10 richest countries per person

Ireland tops GDP per person at $131,592 in 2025, but that number says more about multinational profits than household income. Here is how to read the ranking.

Published 2026-09-19 · Source: World Bank WDI (CC BY 4.0)

The short answer

In 2025, Ireland had the highest GDP per capita of any economy with at least one million people ($131,592), followed by Switzerland ($114,769), Singapore ($98,814), Norway ($94,594) and the United States ($90,027). The world average was $14,406. South Korea ranked 27th at $36,227.

The full top 10

Why Ireland is misleading

GDP per capita measures economic output divided by population, not what people earn. Ireland hosts the European headquarters of many global companies, and profits booked there inflate its GDP well beyond what households receive. Economists often use gross national income or household consumption to compare living standards instead.

Exchange rates matter too

These figures are in current US dollars, so they move with exchange rates. Adjusting for purchasing power (what money actually buys locally) narrows many gaps and changes the order.

The other end

Burundi ($234), Afghanistan ($417) and the Central African Republic ($556) have the lowest GDP per capita, a gap of several hundred times compared with the top of the list.

How we made this

Data: World Bank, World Development Indicators (indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD), current US$, 2025. Economies with at least one million people.

Frequently asked questions

Is GDP per capita the same as average income?

No. It is total economic output divided by population and includes profits of companies that may not stay in the country.

Where does South Korea rank?

27th among economies with at least one million people, at $36,227 (2025).