Nigeria Slips 12 Positions In GDP Purchasing Power Parity Ranking

Nigeria has dropped 12 places in the 2026 ranking of the world’s 60 poorest countries based on GDP per capita at purchasing power parity.

The Global Finance Magazine, which released the ranking, placed Nigeria 56th, compared with 44th in the 2025 ranking.

The ranking was based on GDP per capita at purchasing power parity, a measure that adjusts for differences in the cost of living and inflation across countries.

Nigeria’s nominal GDP per capita was estimated at about $1,500 in 2026, while its GDP per capita at purchasing power parity was $9,532.92.

The figures indicated that although Nigeria’s purchasing-power-adjusted GDP per capita stood above that of several countries on the list, the country’s lower position showed the economic pressure facing its citizens amid the high cost of living.

GDP per capita at purchasing power parity is used to compare the economic output and living standards of people in different countries by adjusting for the prices of goods and services in each country.

The ranking showed that African countries dominated the bottom of the global list. Nine of the 10 countries with the lowest GDP per capita were in Africa, with Yemen the only non-African country.

Burundi was ranked the poorest country, with a GDP per capita of $994.23. It was followed by the Central African Republic with $1,437.72 and South Sudan with $1,467.19.

The other countries among the 10 poorest were Yemen, Mozambique, Malawi, Somalia, Liberia, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Niger was ranked 11th with $2,108.46, followed by Sudan in 13th position with $2,427.43 and Burkina Faso in 16th position with $3,060.34.

Lesotho ranked 17th with $3,211.83, while Chad and Guinea-Bissau occupied the 18th and 19th positions with $3,284.18 and $3,304.84, respectively.

Mali was placed 20th with $3,480.41, followed by Togo in 21st position with $3,563.31. The Gambia ranked 22nd with $3,664.60, while Sierra Leone came 23rd with $3,709.84.

Uganda ranked 26th with $3,923.83. Vanuatu, Comoros, Rwanda and Tanzania occupied the 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th positions respectively.

Zambia was ranked 31st at $4,380.77, followed by Ethiopia at $4,498.55, Guinea at $4,746.77, and Benin at $4,758.22.

Senegal ranked 37th with $5,440.63, while Cameroon ranked 38th with $5,782.69.

Kenya was ranked 44th with a GDP per capita of $7,590.60, while Zimbabwe came 46th with $7,985.23.

Côte d’Ivoire ranked 48th with $8,165.34; Ghana ranked 51st with $8,613.25; Mauritania ranked 52nd with $8,831.81; and Djibouti ranked 55th with $9,435.70.

Nigeria ranked below Djibouti but above Nicaragua, which came 57th with $9,765.25. Bangladesh, Angola and Laos occupied the 58th, 59th and 60th positions with $10,271.28, $10,274.90 and $10,379.98 respectively.

The figures also showed changes in the ranking compared with 2025. Burundi moved from second place to first, while South Sudan dropped from first to third.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo moved from seventh to 10th, while Nigeria fell from 44th to 56th.

The ranking placed Nigeria among countries facing serious economic challenges, as the drop came at a time when households were dealing with rising prices and a decline in their purchasing power.