(Juba) – South Sudan has been ranked as the world’s poorest country in 2025 by income per person, according to new data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published by Visual Capitalist.
The report based on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita places South Sudan at the bottom of the global list with an annual average income per person of just $251, which is about 1,167,150 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) using the official exchange rate, or 1,757,000 SSP on the black market.
The GDP per capita is calculated by dividing a country’s total economic output by its population. While the measure does not reflect income inequality or the cost of living, it gives a general picture of economic well being. For South Sudan, the figures reflect a deepening economic crisis fuelled by insecurity, limited investment, and a sharp fall in oil exports—the country’s main source of revenue.
The IMF’s ranking shows that the world’s lowest income countries remain largely concentrated in Sub Saharan Africa, a region that continues to grapple with armed conflict, fragile institutions, climate change and insufficient funding for education and infrastructure. Alongside South Sudan in the bottom five are Yemen, Burundi, the Central African Republic and Malawi.
The troubling assessment from the IMF is backed by a separate report from the African Development Bank (AfDB), which reveals that 92% of South Sudan’s population now lives in poverty.
This is a dramatic rise from 84% in 2023. The country’s economy, once heavily reliant on oil, has suffered significantly due to disruptions in oil production and exports, as well as ongoing instability in many regions.
The impact of this economic collapse is evident in growing hunger. From April to July 2025, which is considered the lean season in South Sudan, an estimated 7.7 million people, representing 57% of the country’s population, are expected to experience food insecurity.
With poverty levels already critical, the World Bank’s 2025 South Sudan Economic Monitor warns that poverty could become “universal” by the end of the year unless urgent economic and security reforms are implemented.
Other countries on the IMF’s list of the poorest nations include the Central African Republic with a GDP per capita of $532, Malawi at $580, Madagascar at $595, and Sudan at $625. Nigeria, despite being Africa’s largest economy and most populous country, ranks 12th on the list with a GDP per capita of $807. Somalia stands at $766, while Ethiopia’s figure is $1,066.
Even outside Africa, a few Asian countries also remain on the list. Myanmar ($1,177), Nepal ($1,458), and India ($2,878) are notable entries. Although India has made significant economic progress in recent decades, the size of its population and wealth disparities have lowered its per capita standing compared to other economies of similar scale.
Experts caution that GDP per capita does not show the full picture of poverty. It doesn’t include differences in local prices, wealth inequality, or purchasing power. However, for South Sudan, the IMF’s ranking and the AfDB and World Bank reports signal a country in urgent need of economic restructuring, international support and political stability to improve the lives of its citizens.
