Top 10 Richest Countries in The World By GDP Per Capita in 2025

When people think of the richest countries, the United States often comes to mind because it has the largest economy overall. However, many smaller nations in terms of population and land area surpass the U.S. in GDP per capita. Nations like Luxembourg, Singapore, Ireland, and Qatar consistently rank among the richest countries in the world by GDP per capita. These countries take benefit of their stable governments, highly skilled workers, strong financial sctors and business-friendly environments. All these factors help them to maintain their economic dominance on a global level.

Among the richest countries in the world, Additionally, among the richest countries in the world, Luxembourg ranks first with a $154,910 GDP per capita and the United States ranks 10th with a much lower GDP per capita of $89,680. Additionally, some countries, like Qatar and Norway, have become wealthy by utilizing their vast natural resources in the form of oil and gas. On the other hand, countries like Switzerland, Singapore, and Luxembourg have built their wealth through banking and financial services.

What is GDP Per Capita?

GDP per capita is a key economic measure that shows the average income per person in a country. It is calculated by dividing the country’s total income by its population. This measure is often used to gauge living standards in a country, as a higher GDP per capita generally suggests a better quality of life. However, it does not take income and wealth inequality into account, meaning it might not fully capture the gap between the rich and the poor.

Top 10 Richest Countries in the World

The following 10 nations are ranked among the richest countries in the world, based on their GDP per capita.

Rank	Country	GDP per Capita (USD)	Continent
1	Luxembourg	$154,910	Europe
2	Singapore	$153,610	Asia
3	Macao SAR	$140,250	Asia
4	Ireland	$131,550	Europe
5	Qatar	$118,760	Asia
6	Norway	$106,540	Europe
7	Switzerland	$98,140	Europe
8	Brunei Darussalam	$95,040	Asia
9	Guyana	$91,380	South America
10	United States	$89,680	North America

The data is sourced from the International Monetary Fund.

1. Luxembourg: GDP Per Capita – $154,910

Luxembourg consistently ranks among the world’s wealthiest nations. The country boasts one of the highest GDP per capita in the world, reaching an impressive $154,910 in 2025. Before the mid-19th century, Luxembourg was predominantly a rural economy. However, its strong finance and banking sector, along with its business-friendly environment, has enabled it to become the richest country globally.

Luxebourg’s reputation for financial secrecy has made it an attractive place for people and businesses to hide assets in the country. Additionally, banking and financial services, along with the tourism and logistics sectors, largely contribute to Luxembourg’s economic success. The country also has a strong social security system among OECD nations, with social welfare spending making up around 20% of its GDP.

2. Singapore: GDP Per Capita – $153,610

Singapore stands as the world’s second-richest nation based on GDP per capita. It has transformed from a developing country to a developed and high-income economy in a relatively short period of time. Despite its tiny size and small population, the country has become a global economic hub due to its business-friendly environment and low tax rates. It is known for being one of the most open and least corrupt nations in the world. The country has the second-largest container port by cargo volume, just behind Shanghai.

Additionally, the country’s strong governance, innovative policies, and highly skilled workforce are key drivers of its economic success. Singapore’s political stability and business-friendly environment has made it a top destination for foreign investment.

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3. Macao SAR: GDP Per Capita – $140,250

With a GDP per capita of $140,250, Macao SAR is the third richest region in the world. This small Special Administrative Region of China is located on the Pearl River Delta. It has remained one of the most open economies in the world since its handover to China in 1999. Macao’s economy is mainly driven by its gaming and tourism industries, which attract millions of visitors every year. Due to its massive wealth, Macau has one of the best social welfare programs in the world. Additionally, it is the first region in China that provides 15 years of free education.

4. Ireland: GDP Per Capita – $131,550

Ireland ranks as the fourth richest country in the world. Ireland’s economy is largely driven by its main industries, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and software development. Additionally, the country’s favorable business environment and low corporate tax rate have made it an attractive place for foreign investment.

Historically, Ireland adopted the protectionist policy and imposed high trade barriers during the 1930s Economic War with Britain. This strategy, however, resulted in economic stagnation by the 1950s, while other European nations saw massive economic growth. However, after opening its economy to the world with fewer protectionist policies and becoming a member of the European Union, Ireland gained easy access to a large export market. Additionally, the country actively promotes foreign direct investment with relatively low corporate tax rates and a business-friendly approach.

5. Qatar: GDP Per Capita – $118,760

Qatar is the fifth wealthiest country in the world by GDP per capita. The country has some of the largest natural gas reserves in the world. Therefore, its economy is primarily driven by natural resources, including oil and natural gas. In addition to its energy sector, Qatar has been investing heavily in the international tourism industry. The country became the first Arab nation to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, which boosted its global profile. Additionally, Qatar continues to diversify its economy by investing in education, health, and technology sectors to ensure long-term prosperity.

6. Norway: GDP Per Capita – $106,540

Norway is one of the richest countries in Europe and the world, mainly due to the wealth generated from its large offshore oil and gas reserves. Norway has a high standard of living compared to many other European nations. The country has one of the most efficient and robust social security systems among OECD countries.

Historically, Norway was the poorest of the three Scandinavian nations (the others being Denmark and Sweden). Its economy was mainly based on agriculture, timber, and fishing. However, the discovery of oil in the 20th century transformed the nation into one of the wealthiest in the world. Despite its massive wealth, Norway is also one of the most expensive countries to live in due to the high cost of living in Europe.

7. Switzerland: GDP Per Capita – $98,140

Switzerland boasts one of the strongest economies in the world, which consistently ranks top among the richest nations. The country has one of the most extensive social security and welfare programs in the world, which is reflected in its social expenditures of more than 20% of GDP.

Switzerland is famous for the production of luxury goods such as watches and clocks. The watches made by Rolex and Omega are the most durable and famous worldwide. In addition to precision timepieces, Switzerland is home to leading global companies in various fields. Nestlé, ABB, and Stadler Rail are some of the prominant multinational companies based in Switzerland. Due to its business-friendly environment and innovations, the country has been ranked first in the Global Innovation Index since 2015.

8. Brunei Darussalam: GDP Per Capita – $95,040

Brunei Darussalam is one of the wealthiest nations in Southeast Asia by GDP per capita. Its economy is heavily dependent on its oil and gas reserves, which make up more than half of its GDP. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the country is a major exporter of crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas, which accounts for about 90% of government revenue. This heavy dependence on oil and gas exports makes it vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices. Therefore, the country has been making efforts to diversify its economy.

The launching of the Brunei Halal branding scheme in 2009 and the country’s investments in tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors highlight its efforts to diversify the economy.

9. Guyana: GDP Per Capita – $91,380

Guyana’s economy has experienced rapid growth in recent years due to its growing oil industry. The 2015 discovery of its vast offshore oil fields resulted in a major transformation in the country’s economy. The surge in oil production has not only contributed to Guyana’s economic development but has also attracted large foreign investment in the oil and gas sector. However, despite the rapid growth of the oil industry, Guyana’s government is actively working to diversify the economy.

10. United States: GDP Per Capita – $89,680

The United States is the world’s largest economy in terms of nominal gross domestic product (GDP) and the second-largest by GDP purchasing power parity (PPP). The economic strength of the US comes from several factors. The country is home to the world’s two largest stock exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, which have the highest market capitalization globally. Additionally, Wall Street and major financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America play a key role in global finance. Also, the U.S. dollar serves as the global reserve currency, which is widely used in international transactions.

In addition to its financial power, the U.S. is a global leader in research and development. The country spends around 3.4% of its GDP on research and development (R&D).

Despite being the richest countries globally, the United States has one of the highest income inequalities among developed countries. The gap between the wealthy and the poor continues to widen in the U.S. Additionally, the U.S. has the largest national debt globally, which has surpassed $36 trillion, or approximately 125% of its GDP.

The Next 15 Richest Countries by GDP per Capita

In addition to the top 10 richest countries in the world, the following countries also rank among the top richest countries globally. These nations rank 11th through 25th on the global scale by GDP per capita.

Rank	Country	GDP Per Capita (USD)	Continent
11	Denmark	$85,790	Europe
12	Netherlands	$83,820	Europe
13	Taiwan Province of China	$82,610	Asia
14	San Marino	$82,580	Europe
15	United Arab Emirates	$82,000	Asia
16	Iceland	$80,320	Europe
17	Hong Kong SAR	$78,720	Asia
18	Malta	$75,820	Europe
19	Belgium	$75,190	Europe
20	Austria	$74,980	Europe
21	Sweden	$74,140	Europe
22	Germany	$72,660	Europe
23	Australia	$71,310	Oceania
24	Andorra	$69,600	Europe
25	France	$67,660	Europe

Source: International Monetary Fund

Conclusion

Luxembourg, Singapore, Macao SAR, Ireland, Qatar, and the United States consistently rank among the world’s richest countries by GDP per capita. These countries have achieved remarkable economic success due to their strong economies, political stability, and efficient use of resources. However, many of these nations face high income and wealth inequality. It highlights that GDP per capita alone does not capture the full picture of country’s prosperity. It fails to account for the disparities in income and wealth distribution that exist in the richest countries.