Seychelles stands as Africa’s richest country per capita, a position it has held since 2013 when it overtook Libya. This is due to its small population (about 121,000 in 2024) and a reliance on tourism, fisheries, and offshore services.
From just $8.06k in 2000, the economy expanded steadily, peaking at $19.14k in 2019. The pandemic dealt a heavy blow in 2020, resulting in a slash of the GDP per capita by over a quarter.
Despite these challenges, Seychelles has demonstrated resilience, with GDP per capita rebounding to above $18k by 2023, though not yet reaching pre-pandemic highs. This underscores both its vulnerability to external shocks and its capacity to recover.
Burundi recorded its highest GDP per capita in 2015 ($280.97).
By 2024, GDP per capita dropped to $153.93, a decline of nearly 45% from its peak.
Burundi’s population exceeds 13 million (2024), which dilutes income per person even when overall GDP grows.
Structural challenges like limited industrialization, reliance on subsistence farming, and political instability contribute to stagnation.
Since 2015, Burundi has held the lowest GDP per capita in Africa—and at $153.9 in 2024, it is the poorest country in the world by GDP per capita.
