Richest Countries in the World
The world's richest countries ranked by approximate GDP per capita. Small, high-income economies such as Luxembourg, Ireland and Switzerland dominate the top of the list.
Facts last checked 31 August 2026. Compiled and reviewed by the 247CountryInfo research team using IMF, World Bank and UN published figures.
How this ranking works
This ranking reflects GDP per capita — a country's total economic output divided by its population — which is why small, high-productivity economies like Luxembourg and Ireland often rank above countries with a much larger total economy, like the USA or Japan.
Economists also measure wealth in other ways that can produce a different order:
- GDP per capita (nominal) — the measure used for this list. Converts each country's economic output to a common currency (usually USD) at market exchange rates.
- PPP-adjusted GDP per capita — adjusts for the fact that the same amount of money buys more in a country with a lower cost of living. This can significantly change the ranking, especially for countries with expensive currencies or a high cost of living.
- Cost-of-living-adjusted wealth — looks at what an income actually affords locally, which is often more useful for comparing living standards than either GDP measure alone.
This list uses widely published nominal GDP-per-capita rankings (IMF, World Bank, UN) as its basis. Exact positions vary by year and by source — treat this as an indicative guide to which economies are considered wealthiest by output per person, not a precise real-time ranking.
| # | Country | Region | Capital | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Liechtenstein |
Western Europe | Vaduz | A tiny microstate with a concentrated, high-value industrial and financial sector relative to its population. |
| 2 |  Monaco |
Western Europe | Monaco | An ultra-small city-state economy built on finance, real estate and tourism, with an unusually wealthy resident population. |
| 3 |  Luxembourg |
Western Europe | Luxembourg | A small population alongside a major international banking and financial services sector. |
| 4 |  Ireland |
Northern Europe | Dublin | Low corporate tax rates have drawn major multinational tech and pharmaceutical headquarters. |
| 5 |  Switzerland |
Western Europe | Bern | Banking, pharmaceuticals and high-value precision manufacturing anchor the economy. |
| 6 |  Singapore |
South-Eastern Asia | Singapore | A compact population alongside a major global finance, trade and shipping hub. |
| 7 |  Norway |
Northern Europe | Oslo | North Sea oil and gas wealth spread across a relatively small population. |
| 8 |  Qatar |
Western Asia | Doha | Vast natural gas reserves relative to a small citizen population. |
| 9 |  United States |
North America | Washington, D.C. | The world's largest and most diversified economy by total output. |
| 10 |  Iceland |
Northern Europe | Reykjavik | A small population supported by fishing, renewable energy and a large tourism sector. |
| 11 |  Denmark |
Northern Europe | Copenhagen | Strong pharmaceuticals, shipping and a high-wage, high-productivity economy. |
| 12 |  Netherlands |
Western Europe | Amsterdam | A major European trade and logistics hub with a strong multinational corporate presence. |
| 13 |  Australia |
Australia and New Zealand | Canberra | Rich mineral and natural resources exported at scale relative to a modest population. |
| 14 |  San Marino |
Southern Europe | City of San Marino | A tiny enclave microstate with a service- and tourism-based economy. |
| 15 |  Austria |
Central Europe | Vienna | A strong industrial base with a significant export-oriented manufacturing sector. |
| 16 |  Sweden |
Northern Europe | Stockholm | Advanced manufacturing, technology and a large export sector relative to population size. |
| 17 |  Belgium |
Western Europe | Brussels | Home to major EU institutions plus a strong international trade and logistics sector. |
| 18 |  Germany |
Western Europe | Berlin | Europe's largest industrial economy, built on manufacturing and exports. |
| 19 |  Canada |
North America | Ottawa | Extensive natural resources — oil, minerals and timber — relative to a modest population. |
| 20 |  Finland |
Northern Europe | Helsinki | A strong technology and industrial sector alongside high education levels. |
| 21 |  United Arab Emirates |
Western Asia | Abu Dhabi | Oil wealth reinvested into a rapidly diversified, business- and tourism-friendly economy. |
| 22 |  United Kingdom |
Northern Europe | London | A large, diversified economy centred on financial and business services. |
| 23 |  France |
Western Europe | Paris | One of the world's largest and most diversified economies. |
| 24 |  Israel |
Western Asia | Jerusalem | A globally significant technology and innovation sector, often called the 'Start-Up Nation'. |
| 25 |  New Zealand |
Australia and New Zealand | Wellington | A strong agricultural export sector relative to a small population. |
| 26 |  Japan |
Eastern Asia | Tokyo | One of the world's largest and most advanced industrial economies. |
| 27 |  Italy |
Southern Europe | Rome | A large diversified economy with strong manufacturing, fashion and export sectors. |
Ranking is indicative, based on widely published GDP per capita figures. Exact positions vary by year and by source (IMF, World Bank, UN).
Essentials for movers & investors
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We are also a member of the CJ Affiliate and AWIN affiliate networks. Links below are affiliate links.
International Relocation & Tax Guide
Practical reading for anyone weighing up a move to a high-income economy.
Multi-Currency Travel Wallet
Handy for anyone doing business or banking across several of these high-income economies.
World Economic Atlas
Maps and figures on GDP, trade and wealth distribution by country.
FAQ
What is the richest country in the world?
By GDP per capita, the answer depends on the source: some rankings (IMF) put Luxembourg first, while others (World Bank, CIA World Factbook) rank tiny microstates Liechtenstein or Monaco above it. All are small, high-income economies with a concentrated financial or industrial sector — followed by Ireland, Switzerland and Singapore in most rankings.
Is the USA the richest country?
The USA has the largest total economy in the world, but by GDP per person it sits below several smaller economies such as Luxembourg, Switzerland and Norway.
What is the difference between GDP per capita and PPP?
GDP per capita converts economic output to a common currency at market exchange rates. PPP (purchasing power parity) adjusts for differences in cost of living between countries, which can change the ranking significantly.
Why do small countries top the richest-countries list?
Because GDP per capita divides total output by population — a small population with a large financial, energy or trade sector (like Luxembourg or Qatar) can produce a higher per-person figure than a much bigger economy like the USA or China.
How has this ranking changed over time?
Rankings shift significantly over 25 years. Ireland is the standout example — its GDP per capita has climbed roughly fivefold since 2000, rising from around 14th place to among the top 2-3 richest countries, driven by decades of foreign investment from multinational technology and pharmaceutical firms. Japan shows the opposite pattern, falling from around 2nd place in 2000 to well outside the top 30 today, despite remaining one of the world's largest economies overall.
Does this ranking use nominal or PPP-adjusted figures?
This list uses nominal GDP per capita — figures converted to US dollars at market exchange rates, not adjusted for local cost of living. A PPP-adjusted ranking can look noticeably different, since it accounts for how far money actually goes in each country.
Why does exchange rate movement affect this ranking?
Because nominal GDP per capita is calculated in US dollars, a stronger dollar makes every other country's figure look smaller in comparison, even if nothing changed in the local economy. This is why European economies with strong local output can still appear to slip down a dollar-denominated ranking during periods of dollar strength.
Are Monaco and Liechtenstein really countries?
Yes — both are fully sovereign microstates with their own governments, though each is very small and closely tied to a larger neighbour (Monaco to France, Liechtenstein to Switzerland and Austria). Their tiny populations are exactly why they can post such high GDP-per-capita figures.
This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Last updated: