From 44th to 56th: Nigeria slides further down global poverty rankings

Nigeria has dropped from 44th to 56th position among the world’s poorest countries in Global Finance magazine’s 2026 ranking, recording a GDP per capita of $9,532.92 at purchasing power parity — a significant slide that reflects the country’s worsening economic conditions amid inflation and currency depreciation.

The Punch reports that nine of the 10 poorest countries globally are African, with Burundi ranked last at $994.23 GDP per capita, followed by the Central African Republic and South Sudan.

Other African nations ranking near Nigeria include Ghana at 51st ($8,613.25), Côte d’Ivoire at 48th ($8,165.34) and Kenya at 44th ($7,590.60), underscoring the continent’s persistent economic development challenges.