I just came across the latest data on GDP per capita, and the picture is quite grim. It turns out that the poorest countries in the world are mainly in Africa and partly in Asia. South Sudan leads the sad ranking with $251 per person, Yemen follows with $417, Burundi ranks third with $490. This is simply incomparable to developed economies.

Looking at the list of the poorest countries on the planet, it’s clear that the Central African Republic ($532), Malawi ($580), and Madagascar ($595) are also in critical condition. Even some relatively large countries like the DRC ($743) and Nigeria ($807) with huge populations remain among the poorest countries in the world by this measure. India ranks last with $2,878 — still very little for an economy of such scale.

What amazes me is not just the numbers, but the gap between rich and poor regions. Even the most developed among this list — (India, Cambodia, Ivory Coast) — are still far behind global averages. It seems that global inequality remains one of humanity’s main challenges.