Poorest Countries In Africa

Africa GNI Per Capita
Africa GNI Per Capitaℹ️
1.BurundiBurundi$238.4
2.Central African RepublicCentral African Republic$427.1
3.Sierra LeoneSierra Leone$461.4
4.SomaliaSomalia$461.8
5.MadagascarMadagascar$505.0
6.NigerNiger$533.0
7.MozambiqueMozambique$541.5
8.Republic of the CongoRepublic of the Congo$586.5
9.MalawiMalawi$645.2
10.ChadChad$716.8
11.LiberiaLiberia$754.5
12.Guinea BissauGuinea Bissau$775.8
13.Burkina FasoBurkina Faso$832.9
14.MaliMali$833.3
15.GambiaGambia$840.0
16.TogoTogo$918.4
17.UgandaUganda$964.2
18.RwandaRwanda$966.3
19.EthiopiaEthiopia$1,027.6
20.South SudanSouth Sudan$1,071.8
21.SudanSudan$1,102.1
22.LesothoLesotho$1,107.4
23.TanzaniaTanzania$1,192.4
24.BeninBenin$1,303.2
25.ZimbabweZimbabwe$1,267.0
26.ComorosComoros$1,484.9
27.ZambiaZambia$1,487.9
28.GuineaGuinea$1,531.7
29.CameroonCameroon$1,588.5
30.SenegalSenegal$1,598.7
31.KenyaKenya$2,099.3
32.GhanaGhana$2,175.9
33.NigeriaNigeria$2,184.4
34.MauritaniaMauritania$2,190.7
35.Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe$2,404.3
36.DR CongoDR Congo$2,448.0
37.AngolaAngola$2,998.5
38.DjiboutiDjibouti$3,136.1
39.MoroccoMorocco$3,527.9
40.TunisiaTunisia$3,776.7
41.EswatiniEswatini$4,039.5
42.AlgeriaAlgeria$4,273.9
43.EgyptEgypt$4,295.4
44.NamibiaNamibia$4,911.3
45.LibyaLibya$6,716.1
46.South AfricaSouth Africa$6,776.5
47.Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea$7,053.5
48.BotswanaBotswana$7,737.7
49.GabonGabon$8,820.3
50.MauritiusMauritius$10,216.3
51.SeychellesSeychelles$15,874.5

Poverty Across Africa

Africa is a continent blessed with rich natural resources, cultural diversity, and enormous potential. However, it's also a continent that's been grappling with several socio-economic challenges, with poverty being one of the most significant. The issue of poverty varies dramatically across its 54 nations, with many facing complex and overlapping factors such as weak domestic institutions, regional conflicts, undiversified economies, and inadequate access to quality health and education services. This analysis of the 2022 Gross National Income (GNI) per capita data across African countries provides vital insights into the economic well-being of the continent's nations, shedding light on the poorest countries, as well as broader regional development trends. Notable findings from the data include:

  • Among all African nations, Burundi records the lowest GNI per capita at $238.4, making it the poorest country in Africa. Following closely are the Central African Republic and Sierra Leone, with a GNI per capita of $427.1 and $461.4, respectively.
  • There is a considerable gap in living standards across the continent. Seychelles, for instance, records the highest GNI per capita at $15,874.5 - over 67 times larger than Burundi's.
  • Despite being resource-rich, countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria have disproportionately low GNIs per capita at $2,448.0 and $2,184.4, respectively, indicating a possible disconnect between natural resource wealth and living standards.
  • Interestingly, a few relatively politically stable countries such as Rwanda and Uganda fall into the lower bracket, with GNIs per capita of $966.3 and $964.2, respectively, suggesting that political stability alone doesn't necessarily translate into wealth.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, is home to many of the continent's poorest countries, illustrating the critical development challenges faced in this region. The disparities represented in these figures underline the urgent need for targeted policies and interventions to foster inclusive growth and poverty reduction in Africa.

10 Poorest Countries in Africa

Leading the list is Burundi, with the lowest GNI per capita in Africa at $238.4. The economic instabilities compounded by political turmoil has seen this East African country grapple with poverty over the years. Next is the Central African Republic, a country immensely rich in resources but ranks second poorest with a GNI per capita of only $427.1. Sierra Leone comes third with a GNI per capita of $461.4, a country that has struggled to recover economically since its civil war ended. Following closely is Somalia, a nation ravaged by war and prolonged drought that trails at $461.8. At the fifth position is Madagascar with a GNI per capita of $505.0. Despite its famed biodiversity and agricultural potential, the country is yet to realize significant economic success. Niger and Mozambique rank 6th and 7th on the list of poorest countries in Africa, with GNI per capita of $533.0 and $541.5, respectively. These countries face numerous challenges, including frequent climate shocks and political instabilities. The Republic of Congo, despite being an oil-rich country, has a GNI of only $586.5, reflecting its struggles with corruption and poor governance. Meanwhile, Malawi and Chad, with respective GNIs per capita of $645.2 and $716.8, completes the list of the top 10 poorest countries in Africa.

10 Poorest Countries in Africa (GNI per Capita):

  1. Burundi - $238.4
  2. Central African Republic - $427.1
  3. Sierra Leone - $461.4
  4. Somalia - $461.8
  5. Madagascar - $505.0
  6. Niger - $533.0
  7. Mozambique - $541.5
  8. Republic of the Congo - $586.5
  9. Malawi - $645.2
  10. Chad - $716.8

By Region

Algeria

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Algeria

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$4,273.9

#42

Angola

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Angola

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$2,998.5

#37

Benin

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Benin

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$1,303.2

#24

Botswana

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Botswana

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$7,737.7

#48

Burkina Faso

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Burkina Faso

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$832.9

#13

Burundi

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Burundi

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$238.4

#1

Cameroon

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Cameroon

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$1,588.5

#29

Central African Republic

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Central African Republic

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$427.1

#2

Chad

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Chad

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$716.8

#10

Comoros

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Comoros

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$1,484.9

#26

DR Congo

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DR Congo

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$2,448.0

#36

Djibouti

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Djibouti

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$3,136.1

#38

Egypt

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Egypt

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$4,295.4

#43

Equatorial Guinea

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Equatorial Guinea

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$7,053.5

#47

Eswatini

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Eswatini

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$4,039.5

#41

Ethiopia

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Ethiopia

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$1,027.6

#19

Gabon

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Gabon

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$8,820.3

#49

Gambia

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Gambia

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$840.0

#15

Ghana

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Ghana

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$2,175.9

#32

Guinea

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Guinea

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$1,531.7

#28

Guinea Bissau

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Guinea Bissau

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$775.8

#12

Kenya

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Kenya

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$2,099.3

#31

Lesotho

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Lesotho

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$1,107.4

#22

Liberia

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Liberia

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$754.5

#11

Libya

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Libya

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$6,716.1

#45

Madagascar

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Madagascar

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$505.0

#5

Malawi

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Malawi

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$645.2

#9

Mali

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Mali

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$833.3

#14

Mauritania

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Mauritania

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$2,190.7

#34

Mauritius

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Mauritius

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$10,216.3

#50

Morocco

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Morocco

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$3,527.9

#39

Mozambique

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Mozambique

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$541.5

#7

Namibia

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Namibia

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$4,911.3

#44

Niger

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Niger

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$533.0

#6

Nigeria

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Nigeria

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$2,184.4

#33

Republic of the Congo

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Republic of the Congo

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$586.5

#8

Rwanda

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Rwanda

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$966.3

#18

Sao Tome and Principe

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Sao Tome and Principe

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$2,404.3

#35

Senegal

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Senegal

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$1,598.7

#30

Seychelles

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Seychelles

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$15,874.5

#51

Sierra Leone

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Sierra Leone

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$461.4

#3

Somalia

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Somalia

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$461.8

#4

South Africa

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South Africa

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$6,776.5

#46

South Sudan

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South Sudan

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$1,071.8

#20

Sudan

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Sudan

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$1,102.1

#21

Tanzania

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Tanzania

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$1,192.4

#23

Togo

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Togo

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$918.4

#16

Tunisia

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Tunisia

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$3,776.7

#40

Uganda

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Uganda

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$964.2

#17

Zambia

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Zambia

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$1,487.9

#27

Zimbabwe

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Zimbabwe

Metric

Value

Rank

Africa GNI Per Capita

$1,267.0

#25

Table

Region ↕Africa GNI Per Capita ↕
Algeria iconAlgeria$4,273.9
Angola iconAngola$2,998.5
Benin iconBenin$1,303.2
Botswana iconBotswana$7,737.7
Burkina Faso iconBurkina Faso$832.9
Burundi iconBurundi$238.4
Cameroon iconCameroon$1,588.5
Central African Republic iconCentral African Republic$427.1
Chad iconChad$716.8
Comoros iconComoros$1,484.9
DR Congo iconDR Congo$2,448.0
Djibouti iconDjibouti$3,136.1
Egypt iconEgypt$4,295.4
Equatorial Guinea iconEquatorial Guinea$7,053.5
Eswatini iconEswatini$4,039.5
Ethiopia iconEthiopia$1,027.6
Gabon iconGabon$8,820.3
Gambia iconGambia$840.0
Ghana iconGhana$2,175.9
Guinea iconGuinea$1,531.7
Guinea Bissau iconGuinea Bissau$775.8
Kenya iconKenya$2,099.3
Lesotho iconLesotho$1,107.4
Liberia iconLiberia$754.5
Libya iconLibya$6,716.1
Madagascar iconMadagascar$505.0
Malawi iconMalawi$645.2
Mali iconMali$833.3
Mauritania iconMauritania$2,190.7
Mauritius iconMauritius$10,216.3
Morocco iconMorocco$3,527.9
Mozambique iconMozambique$541.5
Namibia iconNamibia$4,911.3
Niger iconNiger$533.0
Nigeria iconNigeria$2,184.4
Republic of the Congo iconRepublic of the Congo$586.5
Rwanda iconRwanda$966.3
Sao Tome and Principe iconSao Tome and Principe$2,404.3
Senegal iconSenegal$1,598.7
Seychelles iconSeychelles$15,874.5
Sierra Leone iconSierra Leone$461.4
Somalia iconSomalia$461.8
South Africa iconSouth Africa$6,776.5
South Sudan iconSouth Sudan$1,071.8
Sudan iconSudan$1,102.1
Tanzania iconTanzania$1,192.4
Togo iconTogo$918.4
Tunisia iconTunisia$3,776.7
Uganda iconUganda$964.2
Zambia iconZambia$1,487.9
Zimbabwe iconZimbabwe$1,267.0
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