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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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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

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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.

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