Countries with the Worst Economies in 2025: An Update on the Poorest Countries and Their Economic Standing

In a world of glittering city skylines and blossoming tech hubs, it’s easy to forget that many nations still contend with crushing poverty, weak institutions, and low industrial output. Discussing the worst economic standing among nations puts a spotlight on places where conflict, mismanagement, or fragile governance undercut economic stability. These countries with the worst economy typically lack reliable infrastructure or face political conditions that scare off potential investors. As a result, they end up ranking as the poorest countries in terms of per capita income or overall development. By zeroing in on ten of these nations, we get a sobering view of how difficult it can be for governments to push forward when saddled with debt, unemployment, and limited public services.

While 2025 has brought modest recovery to some parts of the globe, these countries still fight an uphill battle against factors like climate shocks, dependence on a single export, and sociopolitical unrest. Many rely heavily on external aid or remittances from diaspora communities, reflecting the challenges of nurturing homegrown industries. Below, we’ll examine ten countries with the worst economy, peeking at their GDP figures, economic hurdles, and the everyday realities of their citizens. Not every problem is insurmountable—some success stories have emerged when reforms and aid converge—but the struggles these nations face demand a deeper understanding and concerted global cooperation.

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The Democratic Republic of the Congo often finds itself at or near the top of any list of poorest countries, and in 2025, it still ranks among the countries with the worst economy on the planet. Straddling vast mineral resources like cobalt and copper, the DRC has the raw materials that might, under stable governance, provide a sound economic engine. Yet ongoing conflict and fragile institutions impede progress, preventing real benefits from reaching the general population. The country’s roads and railways remain minimal, hampering commerce across its massive territory. This infrastructure gap prevents the DRC from capitalizing fully on mineral exports beyond sporadic deals with foreign mining companies.

According to approximate 2025 data, the DRC’s GDP hovers around $66.4 billion, reflecting a per capita GDP of roughly $627, placing it among those with the worst economic standing overall. Efforts to stabilize certain provinces have progressed slowly, especially with militant groups affecting daily life. Humanitarian organizations note that malnutrition and limited access to education continue to afflict vast regions. If the DRC hopes to exit its standing among the poorest countries, it will require a stable political environment, transparent resource management, and dedicated social policies that channel mining revenues into roads, schools, and basic healthcare.

2. Central African Republic (CAR)

Torn by waves of civil unrest for decades, the Central African Republic remains a prime example of the countries with the worst economy in 2025. Despite pockets of resource wealth—like diamonds and timber—the nation struggles to transform these into broad-based development gains. Insecurity on highways often forces farmers to sell goods at rock-bottom prices or lose entire harvests, which perpetuates high food prices in urban centers. Armed groups claim territory in some regions, inhibiting local or foreign investment. Meanwhile, humanitarian missions attempt to patch the resulting gaps in food and healthcare.

As of mid-2025, CAR’s real GDP is estimated around $3.03 billion, translating to a per capita figure in the $500 range. That keeps it locked firmly within the ranks of the poorest countries globally, with nearly three-quarters of its population living on less than $2 per day. While small-scale agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, conflict over farmland leaves many fields fallow. Prospects for improvement hinge on negotiating peace settlements, developing infrastructure, and instituting corruption controls that encourage responsible governance.

3. Somalia

For decades, Somalia has been a byword for conflict and state fragility. In 2025, the economy is still among the poorest countries bracket, propelled downward by sporadic clashes, frequent droughts, and an absence of robust government structures. A predominantly pastoral and fishing-based society, Somalia’s pastoralists endure recurring climate shocks that devastate livestock. Meanwhile, illegal fishing in coastal waters depletes local stocks, further degrading income for fishing communities. Although some towns show modest economic revival, the overall investment climate remains shaky.

Somalia’s GDP sits around $13.89 billion in 2025, with per capita figures roughly $818, placing it near the bottom of the worst economic standing ladder. International funding helps with essential services—like water sanitation and emergency relief—but building lasting industries remains difficult in the face of persistent insecurity. Piracy incidents dropped from their peak a decade ago but remain a concern for global shipping routes. Economic analysts claim that a stable, inclusive political settlement is paramount to driving investment in ports, roads, and even telecommunication services. Without that, Somalia looks poised to remain one of the countries with the worst economy for the near future.

4. South Sudan

South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, symbolized hope upon its 2011 independence. Yet repeated civil conflicts, corruption allegations, and an over-dependence on oil exports leave it as one of the poorest countries in 2025. Oil revenues once promised a fast track to infrastructure upgrades, but frequent disruptions and mismanagement mean highways, schools, and hospitals remain vastly underdeveloped. Factional violence continues in some areas, displacing 

In 2025, South Sudan’s GDP sits at around $5.31 billion—substantially below potential—while per capita earnings rest in the $300 bracket, confirming its worst economic standing. Analysts highlight how small-scale cattle-keeping communities see minimal government outreach, exacerbating local famines when drought strikes. Young South Sudanese face limited schooling or job paths, fueling high unemployment. Unless durable peace deals address the cyclical violence and corruption, even robust oil fields can’t move this country out of the countries with the worst economy category and into stable growth.

5. Haiti

Nestled in the Caribbean, Haiti’s scenic coastline contrasts harshly with its position among the poorest countries. Decades of political upheaval, natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes, and inadequate infrastructure have left Haiti perpetually struggling. In 2025, the economy sees only modest improvements: many roads still lie ruined since earlier quakes, while deforestation accelerates soil erosion. Urban centers remain crowded, lacking modern sanitation or healthcare networks. Remittances from the diaspora prop up domestic consumption, but larger-scale development remains stalled by uncertain governance and recurring crises.

Haiti’s GDP stands at around $30 billion in 2025, reinforcing its worst economic standing label in the Western Hemisphere. Foreign investors shy away due to unstable political transitions, and many public projects depend heavily on external aid. Rural communities find themselves locked in subsistence patterns, with extreme weather events repeatedly crushing livelihoods. As with other countries with the worst economy, Haiti’s transformation needs consistent institutions capable of distributing resources, implementing land reforms, and upgrading education. These steps, combined with more stable governance, might eventually nudge the nation away from its cycle of poverty.

6. Yemen

Ongoing conflict has ravaged Yemen for years, sealing its fate among the countries with the worst economy well into 2025. Civil unrest, amplified by external military involvement, severely damages infrastructure and disrupts trade. Ports that once facilitated vital imports for a largely food-insecure population see reduced capacity, driving up food and fuel prices. An estimated 70–80% of Yemenis require humanitarian assistance, placing a relentless strain on both local authorities and international aid groups.

Real GDP in 2025 hovers around $16.22 billion, a fraction of what it could be if stability returned. Even oil revenue from modest reserves fails to reach many citizens. Crippling inflation and currency devaluations amplify the crisis, and medical facilities remain gutted by war. Without a sustained ceasefire and comprehensive rebuilding plan, Yemen stands little chance of exiting the “worst economic standing” zone in the foreseeable future.

7. Zimbabwe

Once regarded as an agricultural powerhouse, Zimbabwe’s woes in the late 20th and early 21st centuries plunged it into repeated economic tailspins, leaving it in the worst economic standing among African nations. Key triggers included land reform controversies, bouts of hyperinflation, and periodic political upheavals. Though inflation moderated somewhat after the 2009 currency switch to foreign denominations, the challenge re-emerged with local currencies reintroduced. By 2025, spiking food prices and fragile investor sentiment mark a country unable to bounce back fully.

GDP estimates put Zimbabwe’s economy at around $36.93 billion. Agrarian communities, once thriving in the “breadbasket of Africa,” have smaller yields due to antiquated equipment, a lack of fertilizers, and erratic weather. Mining of platinum and diamonds does bring some foreign exchange, but corruption allegations hamper consistent revenue distribution. Though pockets of enterprise exist in urban areas like Harare or Bulawayo, their expansion is sluggish without dependable financial systems or stable policy. The path toward climbing out of the countries with the worst economy bracket demands real reforms around currency management, land use, and investment safeguards.

8. Sierra Leone

Traumatized by the civil war of the 1990s and severe outbreaks like Ebola in the 2010s, Sierra Leone fits uncomfortably among the poorest countries in 2025. While diamond mines hint at potential wealth, frequent corruption complaints and shaky infrastructure impede large-scale gains. Rural areas rely on subsistence farming with limited irrigation or mechanization. This precarious base keeps the country vulnerable to global price shifts or local conflicts that disrupt trade routes and cargo flows.

Sierra Leone’s GDP in 2025 is estimated at $7.8 billion, with a per capita figure near $883, underlining the worst economic standing categorization. International donors try to boost healthcare, particularly after Ebola taught harsh lessons about system fragility. Meanwhile, climate challenges (like erratic rainfall and coastal erosion) threaten the meager progress made in the fishing and farming sectors. Nonetheless, improvement is possible if consistent governance, anti-corruption campaigns, and better mining oversight let citizens share in the benefits of the country’s natural resources.

9. Burundi

Among East Africa’s smallest and least-developed economies, Burundi remains anchored in the list of countries with the worst economy. The nation’s rural communities mostly practice subsistence agriculture, with coffee and tea among the few exportable crops. Political strife and frequent leadership reshuffles create an environment where new business proposals rarely take root. Without strong roads or reliable electricity, large-scale manufacturing is nearly non-existent. Unemployment and underemployment stand at worrying rates, leaving youths with limited prospects besides small trade or migration.

Estimates for 2025 put Burundi’s GDP at around $2.15 billion, with per capita GDP lingering under $200 in some areas—among the absolute poorest countries worldwide. Drought spells can devastate harvests, while the country’s modest tourism potential remains largely untapped due to safety concerns. Observers suggest that if Burundi’s government pursued consistent power-sharing reforms and cracked down on corruption, modest foreign investment might follow. Until that happens, the combination of limited infrastructure and recurring internal rifts cements its low standing in the global economic pecking order.

10. Afghanistan

Reeling from decades of war, Afghanistan falls among the poorest countries in 2025, with minimal industrial diversification and constant security uncertainties. Relying on subsistence agriculture, small-scale trade, and foreign aid, it rarely locks into stable growth. Poppy cultivation and opium trade overshadow legitimate avenues for economic advancement, while mountainous terrain and limited road networks constrain national connectivity. In major cities like Kabul, electricity shortages and fragile governance hamper attempts at modern commerce.

Afghanistan’s current GDP is around $17.33 billion in 2025, reflective of its worst economic standing in Asia. Conflict has eroded infrastructure time and again, leaving airports, schools, and hospitals in disarray. Although some local businesses thrive amid adversity—particularly in areas like mobile telecom—wider structural improvements remain slow, partly due to shifting alliances and restricted foreign capital inflows. Diminishing aid from international donors adds another obstacle. Analysts agree that peace-building, anti-corruption, and investment in basic public goods must underpin any long-term plan to help Afghanistan climb out of dire economic conditions.

Can These Economies Rebound?

Highlighting these ten nations—each with a distinct history but linked by challenging economic backdrops—illuminates the broader reality behind the worst economic standing in 2025. They find themselves labeled as countries with the worst economy due to a blend of conflicts, weak state mechanisms, or over-dependence on a single resource. While external aid and limited progress occasionally emerge, the overall trajectory has been one of stop-start development. In many cases, the factors that define them as the poorest countries include poorly distributed resources, an inability to draw stable foreign investment, and a lack of robust internal infrastructure.

In an interconnected global community, it’s clear that lifting these economies isn’t just altruism—it also fosters regional stability and new market opportunities. Some strategies that have borne fruit elsewhere include improved governance, targeted microfinance programs, female education incentives, and transparent management of natural resources. When these approaches succeed, even nations long stuck on “worst economy” rosters can start reversing negative trends. Understanding their vulnerabilities is the first step, but long-term progress demands sustained collaboration between domestic leaders, civil society, and international partners. If that synergy materializes, the grim label of “poorest countries” might eventually recede, replaced by a slow but steady climb toward broader prosperity.