Nigeria has ranked 56th among the world’s 60 poorest countries in a 2026 ranking by Global Finance magazine.

The ranking uses GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP). Nigeria recorded $9,532.92, placing it close to the upper end of the list.

However, Nigeria fell 12 places from its 44th position in the 2025 ranking. The decline places the country among several African economies with low GDP-PPP per capita.

Africa dominates the ranking

African countries make up nine of the 10 poorest countries on the 2026 list. Yemen is the only non-African country in the bottom 10.

Burundi ranks as the poorest country, with GDP per capita of $994.23. The Central African Republic follows with $1,437.72. South Sudan ranks third at $1,467.19.

Yemen comes fourth with $1,590.19. Mozambique, Malawi, Somalia, Liberia, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo complete the bottom 10.

The ranking uses PPP to compare economic conditions across countries. The measure adjusts for differences in prices, living costs and inflation.

This provides a different picture from nominal GDP per capita. It focuses more on the amount of goods and services that income can buy within each economy.

Nigeria ranks above several African economies

Nigeria ranks above several African countries on the list. Niger is 11th with $2,108.46, while Sudan ranks 13th with $2,427.43.

Burkina Faso is 16th with $3,060.34. Lesotho ranks 17th at $3,211.83, followed by Chad and Guinea-Bissau.

Mali takes 20th place with $3,480.41. Togo ranks 21st, while The Gambia and Sierra Leone occupy the 22nd and 23rd positions.

Uganda ranks 26th with $3,923.83. Rwanda and Tanzania follow at 29th and 30th.

Zambia ranks 31st with $4,380.77. Ethiopia follows at 32nd with $4,498.55. Guinea and Benin rank 33rd and 34th respectively.

Senegal occupies 37th place with $5,440.63. Cameroon follows in 38th position with $5,782.69.

Kenya ranks 44th with $7,590.60. Zimbabwe is 46th with $7,985.23, while Côte d’Ivoire takes 48th place with $8,165.34.

Ghana ranks 51st with $8,613.25. Mauritania is 52nd at $8,831.81, while Djibouti ranks 55th with $9,435.70.

Nigeria comes next at 56th with $9,532.92. Nicaragua ranks 57th with $9,765.25.

Nigeria’s economic position and housing

Nigeria’s ranking also has implications for the housing and real estate sectors.

Household income affects the ability of families to pay rent, buy land or purchase homes. It also influences demand for mortgages and other forms of housing finance.

Lower purchasing power can make housing costs harder to manage. It can also limit the number of households that can afford formal housing in major cities.

The construction sector faces similar pressures. High costs for land, building materials, labour and finance can make new housing more expensive.

These challenges make affordable housing policies important for Nigeria. Housing programmes must also consider household incomes and access to finance.

Wider African picture

The ranking shows that low-income economies remain heavily concentrated in Africa. Countries across West, East, Central and Southern Africa appear throughout the lower part of the table.

Angola ranks 59th with $10,274.90. Laos ranks 60th with $10,379.98, placing it at the bottom end of the ranking despite being outside Africa.

The 2026 figures also show notable changes from the previous ranking. Burundi moved from second place to first, while South Sudan fell from first to third.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo moved from seventh to 10th. Nigeria recorded one of the more notable changes, falling from 44th to 56th.

For Nigeria’s housing sector, the figures highlight the link between economic capacity and access to decent housing. Income levels affect homeownership, rent affordability, mortgage access and the ability of households to invest in property.

The ranking therefore offers more than an economic comparison. It also points to the importance of stronger incomes, affordable housing supply, accessible housing finance and effective infrastructure investment in improving living conditions.

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