Countries With the Fastest Decline in GDP per capita (5-Year Change)
Change in GDP per capita over the five years to each country's latest year, as a percentage of the earlier value. Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Nigeria fell the most: by 56.2%, from US$2,797 per person to US$1,224 per person in the five years to 2025. Lebanon is second (−49.8%), followed by Northern Mariana Islands (−23.8%). 13 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −12.5%.
- #1
- Nigeria · −56.2%
- Median
- −12.5%
- Coverage
- 13 countries
- Data year
- 2025
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria | 2,797 | 1,224 | −56.2% |
| 2 | Lebanon | 8,906 | 4,473 | −49.8% |
| 3 | Northern Mariana Islands | 31,226 | 23,786 | −23.8% |
| 4 | Timor-Leste | 1,631 | 1,341 | −17.8% |
| 5 | Afghanistan | 496.6 | 416.9 | −16.1% |
| 6 | New Caledonia | 33,411 | 29,213 | −12.6% |
| 7 | Japan | 41,099 | 35,951 | −12.5% |
| 8 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 3,511 | 3,086 | −12.1% |
| 9 | Lao PDR | 2,584 | 2,325 | −10% |
| 10 | Burundi | 252.7 | 233.8 | −7.47% |
| 11 | Libya | 6,650 | 6,449 | −3.03% |
| 12 | West Bank and Gaza | 3,234 | 3,171 | −1.93% |
| 13 | Myanmar | 1,490 | 1,489 | −0.087% |
About the top 10
#1 Nigeria
Nigeria ranks #1 on this list with −56.2%.
- Capital
- Abuja
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 237.53 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$290.79 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,224 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 54.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 63.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt.
Also ranks #1 in under-5 mortality rate · #1 in maternal mortality ratio · #1 in children out of school (primary).
#2 Lebanon
Lebanon ranks #2 on this list with −49.8%.
- Capital
- Beirut
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 5.85 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$25.97 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$4,473 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 77.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 91% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Beirut.
Also ranks #1 in official exchange rate · #2 in smoking prevalence · #7 in refugee population by asylum.
#3 Northern Mariana Islands
Northern Mariana Islands ranks #3 on this list with −23.8%.
- Capital
- Saipan
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 43,541 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.1 billion (2022)
- GDP per person
- US$23,786 (2022)
- Life expectancy
- 78.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 92.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in gdp growth rate · #12 in male population share · #16 in protected marine area share.
#4 Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste ranks #4 on this list with −17.8%.
- Capital
- Dili
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 1.42 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.9 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,341 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 28.8% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in smoking prevalence · #3 in government revenue share of gdp · #4 in prevalence of stunting (under-5).
#5 Afghanistan
Afghanistan ranks #5 on this list with −16.1%.
- Capital
- Kabul
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 43.84 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$17.78 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$416.9 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 66.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 25.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kabul.
Also ranks #1 in refugee population by origin · #4 in health expenditure share of gdp · #6 in agriculture value added share of gdp.
#6 New Caledonia
New Caledonia ranks #6 on this list with −12.6%.
- Capital
- Nouméa
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 295,330 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$8.55 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$29,213 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 78.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 68.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in protected terrestrial area share · #4 in protected marine area share · #4 in mineral rents share of gdp.
#7 Japan
Japan ranks #7 on this list with −12.5%.
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 123.37 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$4.44 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$35,951 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 84 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 92.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tokyo, Tokyo, Yokohama.
Also ranks #2 in population ages 65+ share · #2 in age dependency ratio (old) · #2 in fdi outflows.
#8 Egypt, Arab Rep.
Egypt, Arab Rep. ranks #8 on this list with −12.1%.
- Capital
- Cairo
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 118.37 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$365.25 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,086 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 42.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Cairo, Alexandria, Giza.
Also ranks #1 in irrigated land share · #3 in deposit interest rate · #5 in remittances received.
#9 Lao PDR
Lao PDR ranks #9 on this list with −10%.
- Capital
- Vientiane
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 7.87 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$18.3 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$2,325 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 69.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 40.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in time to start a business (days) · #4 in official exchange rate · #7 in livestock production index.
#10 Burundi
Burundi ranks #10 on this list with −7.47%.
- Capital
- Gitega
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 14.39 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.36 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$233.8 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 63.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 25.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in prevalence of stunting (under-5) · #3 in forest rents share of gdp · #3 in real effective exchange rate index.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in GDP per capita over the five years to each country's latest year, as a percentage of the earlier value. Only countries that fell are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: GDP per capita (current US$): Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks; National Accounts data files, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
Values are shown as published (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.