Top 100 Richest Countries In The World (2023)

The richest countries in the world have traditionally come from Europe and the Americas. Unless some earth-shattering event happens in the future that is unlikely to change. However, countries from these two continents have recently been joined by South Asian nations with very good economic structures and very good distribution of wealth.

Quality of life of citizens is the most logical way of assessing and comparing countries by wealth. This is best understood by looking at how much each citizen makes, which in turn influences how much each citizen can spend on his needs and wants.

GDP Per Capita figures are therefore the best way to establish what countries are rich, and what countries are poor.

Top 100 Richest Countries In The World

1. Ireland

GDP Per Capita: $145,196

Ireland is in Western Europe; it is the adjoining country to England with which it shares much in terms of history and culture. Ireland shares a similar societal structure with Singapore and Luxembourg; it has much resources but very few people.

Ireland has a land area of 84,421 km2, and a population of about 7 million people. Ireland therefore has rich land resources but very few people to enjoy them.

The economy of Ireland is boosted by the manufacturing, banking, and services sectors. Medical inputs are a major boost to the manufacturing sector of this country.

2. Luxembourg

GDP Per Capita: $142,694

Luxembourg is small country in Western Europe. The country is a constitutional Monarchy; and it presently ruled by Archduke Henry. Luxembourg is a small landlocked country; its neighbors include similarly wealthy countries like Germany, Belgium, and France.

Luxembourg has a highly developed and stable economy; its high position on the human development index is comparable to a family with few children, as against another family with many children. Luxembourg would be the family with few children; who therefore enjoy bigger portions of food, and more bountiful supplies of other necessities.

Luxembourg has a population of 640 thousand people, and its economy is boosted by manufacturing, insurance and banking, technology, and agriculture. It is worthy of mention that this country is home to several technology companies; and that investment banking is very big.

3. Singapore

GDP Per Capita: $133,895

Singapore is an island country in Southeast Asia. This is another small country; it measures 733.1 km2, and has a population of only 5.4 million people. Singapore is a crossroads between the eastern and western way of life; and that is what makes it unique.

Singapore attracts wealthy people from all over the world; and it is the country with the highest number of millionaires per square meter.

Some of the most vibrant sectors of the economy of Singapore include; real estate, hospitality, aviation, financial services, and maritime services.

4. Qatar

GDP Per Capita: $124,824

The Arabian state if Qatar is located in Western Asia. Qatar only has one land border; which it shares with Saudi Arabia; but it has an extensive coastline which is surrounded by the Persian Gulf. Qatar is a constitutional monarchy; it is ruled by the Emir.

Qatar has a population of about 2.7 million people, and they live in a land area of 11,581km2- although most of the citizens live in Doha, which is the capital of the country.

Qatar’s economy is built around the oil industry; crude oil and natural gas makes up the bulk of its exports. However, retail commerce, hospitality, and aviation are also important sectors.

5. United Arab Emirates

GDP Per Capita: $88,221

The United Arab Emirates is an Arab country in Western Asia. Some of its neighbors include Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Iran. The United Arab Emirates has a land area of 83,600 km2, and a population of more than 10 million.

United Arab Emirates has a large number of immigrants; especially from Asia. These immigrants play a huge role in the economy; especially as regards investments and essential skills.

The economy of the UAE is largely based on the oil industry; however, trade, tourism, and retail commerce are increasingly popular aspects of the economy.

6. Switzerland

GDP Per Capita: $87,963

Switzerland is located in Europe; it is landlocked, and has such neighbors as France, Italy, Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein. Switzerland has a land area of 41,285 km2, and a population of 8,5 million people.

The economy of Switzerland is boosted by the banking sector; this is the world’s banking capital, and Swiss banks are known for the superior protection and privacy they offer.

Research and development of pharmaceutical products also contributes greatly to the economy.

7. Norway

GDP Per Capita: $82,655

The Kingdom of Norway is a country in Europe; it is a constitutional monarchy, and is located in Northern Europe. Norway has a very well organized society; with a people that live in considerable wealth and comfort. Norway has a land area of 385,207 square kilometers, and a population of around 5.4 million people.

Norway’s economy is boosted by oil; some of its biggest exports include crude oil, refined petroleum, and natural gas. Processed fish, raw aluminum are also important to the economy.

Norway has done much to build its wealth through judicious use of the oil revenue; it has the capital reserve per capita of any nation in the world. The Government Pension Fund of Norway has over US$1.19 trillion in assets, making it the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world.

8. San Marino

San Marino is a microstate that is enclaved by Italy. It is the oldest extant state in the world; it was established sometime around AD 301, when the known world was under the shadow of the Roman Empire. The country has a land area of 61 km2, and a population of 33,562.

San Marino’s economy is diversified; tourism, banking, manufacturing are the most important sectors of the economy. Some of the country’s most important products include; ceramics, clothing, fabrics, paints, spirits, furniture, tiles, and wine.

9. United States

GDP Per Capita: $80,035

The United States of America is a country in North America. It is the biggest country on this list by land area and population; it has a population of 331 million, living in a land area of 3,796,742 sq miles. Its neighbors include Canada and Mexico.

The economy of the United States is very well diversified; agriculture, manufacturing, retail commerce, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and military equipment are some key sectors. The US is the world’s biggest hub of technology, fashion, and finance.

The New York Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in the world, and the US Dollar is the currency of international commerce.

10. Brunei

GDP Per Capita: $75,583

Brunei is a country in Southeast Asia. It is an absolute monarchy- one of the very few of such countries left in the world. Brunei’s neighbors include Malaysia and Indonesia. Brunei has a land area of 5,765 km2, and a population of 460,345.

Brunei’s is also an oil economy; its major exports include crude oil and natural gas. Nevertheless, Brunei is a wealthy country, and the people live very comfortably. The oil revenues trickle down to the common people; and there they are not many; so the wealth can be richly distributed.

The following is a more extensive list of the 100 richest countries in the world; as well as their locations on earth, and the GDP Per Capita figures.

Position	Country	Location	GDP Per Capita
1	Ireland	Europe	145,196
2	Luxembourg	Europe	142,490
3	Singapore	Asia	133,895
4	Qatar	Asia	124,834
5	Macau	Asia	89,558
6	United Arab Emirates	Asia	88,221
7	Switzerland	Europe	87,963
8	Norway	Europe	82,665
9	United States	Americas	80,035
10	San Marino	Europe	78,926
11	Brunei	Asia	75,583
12	Hong Kong	Asia	74,958
13	Denmark	Europe	73,567
15	Taiwan	Asia	73,344
16	Netherlands	Europe	72,973
17	Iceland	Europe	69,779
18	Austria	Europe	69,502
19	Andorra	Europe	68,998
20	Germany	Europe	66,132
21	Sweden	Europe	65,842
22	Belgium	Europe	65,501
23	Australia	Oceania	65,366
24	Saudi Arabia	Asia	64,836
25	Malta	Europe	61,939
26	Finland	Europe	60,897
27	Guyana	Americas	60,648
28	Bahrain	Asia	60,596
29	Canada	Americas	60,177
30	France	Europe	58,828
31	South Korea	Asia	56,706
32	United Kingdom	Europe	56,471
33	Malta	Europe	54,647
34	Israel	Asia	54,997
35	Cyprus	Asia	54,611
36	Italy	Europe	54,216
37	New Zealand	Oceania	54,046
38	Kuwait	Asia	53,037
39	Slovenia	Europe	48,534
40	Japan	Asia	51,809
41	Czech Republic	Europe	50,961
42	Aruba	Americas	49,627
43	Spain	Europe	49,448
44	Lithuania	Europe	49,266
45	Estonia	Europe	46,385
46	Poland	Europe	45,343
47	Portugal	Europe	44,707
48	Bahamas	Americas	43,913
49	Hungary	Europe	43,907
50	Puerto Rico	Americas	43,845
51	Croatia	Europe	42,531
52	Oman	Asia	42,188
53	Romania	Europe	41,634
54	Slovakia	Europe	41,515
55	Turkey	Europe	41,412
56	Latvia	Europe	40,256
57	Panama	Americas	40,177
58	Seychelles	Africa	39,662
59	Greece	Europe	39,478
60	Malaysia	Asia	36,847
61	Maldives	Asia	36,358
62	Russia	Europe	34,837
63	Kazakhstan	Asia	32,688
64	Trinidad and Tobago	Americas	32,054
65	Bulgaria	Europe	32,006
66	Saint Kitts and Nevis	Americas	29,662
67	Chile	Americas	29,613
68	Mauritius	Africa	29,164
69	Uruguay	Americas	28,740
70	Montenegro	Europe	27,761
71	Argentina	Americas	27,261
72	Costa Rica	Americas	26,422
73	Dominican Republic	Americas	25,896
74	Antigua and Barbuda	Americas	21,890
75	Serbia	Europe	25,432
76	Libya	Africa	24,599
77	Antigua and Barbuda	Americas	24,012
78	Mexico	Americas	23,820
79	Belarus	Europe	23,447
80	China	Asia	23,382
81	Thailand	Asia	22,675
82	Georgia	Asia	21,992
83	North Macedonia	Europe	21,111
84	Grenada	Americas	20,075
85	Turkmenistan	Asia	19,974
86	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Europe	19,604
87	Iran	Asia	19,548
88	Armenia	Asia	19,489
89	Colombia	Americas	19,460
90	Botswana	Africa	19,398
91	Gabon	Africa	19,197
92	Albania	Europe	19,029
93	Barbados	Americas	18,858
94	Brazil	Americas	18,686
95	Azerbaijan	Asia	18,669
96	Equatorial Guinea	Africa	18,510
97	Saint Lucia	Americas	18,435
98	Suriname	Americas	18,427
99	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Americas	17,793
100	Egypt	Africa	16,979

Related:

• Top 100 Highest Currencies In The World
• Top 100 Lowest Currencies In The World
• Top 100 Highest Paid Jobs In The World

Closing

As most of the richest countries in the world usually have small populations enjoying healthy servings of the national wealth, it seems that the best policy going forward is for countries to maintain small populations, or to split into smaller states so that they can better take care of their people.