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When we talk about wealth at the national level, it’s easy to get caught up in total GDP figures, which only tell us the size of a country’s economy.

But GDP per capita - the average economic output per person - gives a clearer picture of individual prosperity and living standards. This measure helps us understand how wealthy people in a country might be on average, rather than just how big the economy is.

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In this post, we’ll explore the top 10 richest countries in the world by GDP-PPP per capita in 2025, offering useful insights into which nations provide the highest economic well-being to their residents.

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.

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 September 2025:
RankCountryGDP-PPP Per Capita (in USD)
1Liechtenstein201,112.3
2Singapore156,969.1
3Luxembourg152,394.6
4Ireland147,878.2
5Macao SAR132,648.3
6Qatar122,283.2
7Norway106,694.1
8Switzerland97,659.2
9Brunei Darussalam94,472.4
10Guyana94,189.3

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.

A closer look: Top 10 richest countries by GDP per capita ranking 2025

Liechtenstein

  • GDP: $9.42 billion
  • Population: 0.04 million
The country is a major international financial centre specialising in private banking, wealth management, and insurance services. Its business-friendly regulatory environment and stable legal framework attract substantial foreign capital.

In recent years, Liechtenstein has strengthened its global integration, including joining the IMF in October 2024 and fully implementing the OECD’s Pillar 2 global minimum tax rules as of January 2024.

Singapore

  • GDP: $574.18 billion
  • Population: 6.08 million
Singapore’s high GDP is primarily driven by its strategic governance and role as a global hub. 

In 2024, the Economic Development Board (EDB) secured $13.5 billion in fixed-asset commitments, particularly in the manufacturing sector, reinforcing its position as a reliable global production hub.

Singapore Green Plan 2030 Initiative, launched in 2021 charts ambitious targets for sustainable development and net-zero emissions, positioning the nation for future green growth and attracting investments in related tech and sustainable finance.

Luxembourg

  • GDP: $100.64 billion
  • Population: 0.69 million
Luxembourg’s dominant financial services sector is the cornerstone of the economy, managing over €5 trillion in assets, making it the world’s second-largest investment fund center after the US. The sector specializes in cross-border fund administration, private banking, and insurance services, attracting international capital.

The Luxembourg Green Exchange has listed over €1 trillion in sustainable bonds, positioning the nation as the EU’s top green finance hub.

Ireland

  • GDP: $708.77 billion
  • Population: 5.49 million
Ireland ranks as one of the richest countries in the world in 2025 due to a highly globalized economy driven by foreign direct investment, though its high GDP per capita is partially inflated by the accounting practices of multinational corporations.

The nation has successfully attracted a large number of US tech (Google, Apple, Meta) and pharmaceutical (Pfizer) companies to establish their European headquarters. These firms contribute a huge portion of the national GDP.

Ireland’s implementation of the OECD’s global minimum corporate tax rate (15%) for large multinationals demonstrates its commitment to international tax cooperation while seeking to maintain its competitive edge. 

Macao SAR

  • GDP: $52.38 billion
  • Population: 0.7 million
Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) ranks among the world’s richest countries by GDP (PPP) per capita primarily due to its massive, liberalized gaming industry and small population.

Plus, as a condition of license renewal in 2022, gaming concessionaires committed to investing over $13 billion into non-gaming projects, further supporting diversification efforts.

The casino and tourism industry is the central pillar of Macao’s economy, often generating more revenue than Las Vegas. This sector contributes a majority of the GDP and government tax revenue.

Qatar

  • GDP: $222.12 billion
  • Population: 3.11 million
Qatar is in the list of the top 10 richest countries in the world primarily due to its massive natural resource wealth and a small population, which drives its dominant hydrocarbon-based economy. Qatar possesses the world’s third-largest proven natural gas reserves and significant oil reserves.

The National Development Strategy was launched in early 2024 to further diversify the economy away from hydrocarbons.

Commitment to environmental sustainability is evident in new projects like the Al Kharsaah Solar PV Power Plant and expanding Carbon Capture and Storage technology, positioning Qatar in the future green economy.

Norway

  • GDP: $517.1 billion
  • Population: 5.63 million
Norway is Western Europe’s top producer and major global exporter of petroleum and natural gas, which are primary drivers of national wealth. It also has rich reserves of fish, forests, and minerals.

Instead of immediately spending all oil revenues, the government channels nearly all petroleum profits into its Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund (valued at over $2 trillion in 2025).

A strict fiscal rule dictates that only the expected return (around 3%) from the wealth fund’s capital can be used annually in the national budget. This prevents economic overheating and preserves the fund for future generations.

Switzerland

  • GDP: $1 thousand billion
  • Population: 9.03 million
Switzerland consistently ranks in the list of the top 10 richest countries in the world due to its specialized, high-value economy, political stability, and role as a global financial hub. 

The country invests heavily in R&D and boasts world-class universities and research institutions (like ETH Zurich), fostering continuous innovation and technological advancement.

The financial sector has successfully navigated recent global banking turbulence (such as the 2023 Credit Suisse acquisition by UBS), consolidating its position as a stable and reliable global center for wealth management.

Brunei Darussalam

  • GDP: $15.57 billion
  • Population: 0.46 million
The economy is overwhelmingly dependent on the export of oil and LNG, which accounts for over half of its GDP and most government revenue. 

Brunei Darussalam’s economy grew by 4.2% in 2024, its fastest expansion since 1999, driven by a strong rebound in both upstream and downstream oil and gas sectors, placing it among the fastest-growing ASEAN economies during that period.

Guyana

  • GDP: $25.06 billion
  • Population: 0.8 million
Guyana’s high GDP (PPP) per capita is a recent phenomenon driven almost entirely by massive offshore oil discoveries, which have transformed it into one of the top 10 richest countries in the world.

The country has also become a leader in climate finance by monetizing its vast, intact rainforests through carbon credit sales, earning considerable revenue.

FAQs

1. What is the GDP per capita ranking of India?

As of September 2025, India’s GDP per capita is $2880 (Nominal) and $12,130 (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 4th in the world, following the USA, China and Germany.

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 $716.25, making it the poorest country in the world.

First Published: Dec 18, 2025, 09:09

International Monetary FundUnited States
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