The richest countries in the world present one of the greatest ironies that analysts have had to contend with. With the more popular economies largely missing from this compilation, it seems that there are several economic realities that the world has not come to terms with.

For a country to be considered rich it does not need to have a lot of money stored in some off shore vault; the country is made up of people who must be living in relative wealth and comfort, and who must benefit from some form of financial cover by the government they have put into power.

GDP per capita figures (which compile the earnings of each individual making up the population, and then make out an average figure which is quoted) are the most globally accepted means of arranging the wealthiest countries in the world. This is the best way to determine the living standards of the countries in question.

TOP 10 RICHEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD 2023

 Rank  Richest Countries  Continent  GDP Per Capita (PPP)
 1. Luxembourg  Europe 140,694
 2. Singapore Asia 131,580
 3. Ireland Europe  Europe 124,596
 4. Qatar  Asia 112,789
 5. Macau Asia 85,612
 6. Switzerland Europe 84,658
 7. United Arab Emirates Asia 78,255
 8. Norway Europe 77,808
 9. United States Americas 76,027
 10. Brunei Asia 74,953
 11.  Hong Kong  Asia 70,448
 12. San Marino Europe 70,139
 13. Denmark  Europe 69,273
 14. Taiwan Asia 68,730
 15. Netherlands Europe 68,572
 16. Austria Europe 64,751
 17. Iceland  Europe 64,621
 18. Andorra  Europe 63,600
 19. Germany Europe 63,271
 20. Sweden  Europe 62,926
 21. Australia Oceania 61,941
 22. Belgium Europe 61,587
 23. Finland Europe 58,010
 24. Canada Americas 57,812
 25. Bahrain  Asia 57,424
 26. France  Europe 56,036
 27. Saudi Arabia Asia 55,368
 28.  United Kingdom  Europe 55,301
 29.  Malta  Europe 54,647
 30. South Korea  Asia 53,051
 31. Kuwait  Asia 50,919
 32. New Zealand Oceania 50,411
 33. Italy Europe 50,216
 34. Israel Asia 50,204
 35. Japan Asia 48,814
 36. Slovenia  Europe 48,534
 37. Cyprus Europe 48,443
 38.  Czech Republic  Europe 47,527
 39. Lithuania  Europe 46,479
 40. Spain  Europe 46,413
 41. Estonia  Europe 44,778
 42. Puerto Rico Americas 42,759
 43. Poland Europe 41,685
 44.  Trinidad and Tobago  North America  32,254
 45. Hungary  Europe 40,944
 46. Portugal  Europe 40,805
 47. Bahamas Americas 40,274
 48. Aruba Americas 39,508
 49.  Seychelles  Africa  30,505
 50. Slovakia  Europe 38,620
 51. Guyana Americas 38,258
 52. Turkey  Asia 37,488
 53. Latvia  Europe 37,330
 54. Romania Europe 36,622
 55. Croatia  Europe 36,201
 56. Panama Americas 36,085
 57. Greece  Europe 35,596
 58. Oman Asia 35,286
 59. Seychelles Africa 35,272
 60. Malaysia Asia 32,901
 61. Kazakhstan Asia 30,502
 62. Russia Europe 30,013
 63. Trinidad and Tobago Americas 29,884
 64. Maldives Asia 29,133
 65. Bulgaria Europe 28,593
 66. Chile Americas 28,526
 67. Saint Kitts and Nevis Americas 27,608
 68. Uruguay Americas 26,663
 69. Argentina Americas 25,822
 70. Mauritius Africa 25,043
 71. Montenegro Europe 24,878
 72. Costa Rica Americas 24,490
 73. Dominican Republic Americas 23,983
 74. Serbia Europe 23,904
 75. Mexico Americas 22,216
 76. Antigua and Barbuda Americas 21,890
 77. Belarus  Europe 21,686
 78. China Asia 21,364
 79. Thailand  Asia 21,057
 80. North Macedonia  Europe 19,726
 81. Botswana Africa 19,287
 82. Equatorial Guinea Africa 19,036
 83. Turkmenistan Asia 18,857
 84. Georgia Asia 18,594
 85. Libya  Africa 18,345
 86. Iran Asia 18,332
 87. Grenada Americas 18,293
 88. Colombia Americas 18,225
 89. Gabon Africa 17,848
 90. Bosnia and Herzegovina Europe 17,471
 91. Barbados Americas 17,408
 92. Albania Europe 17,383
 93. Suriname Americas 17,300
 94. Brazil Americas 17,208
 95. Azerbaijan  Asia 17,153
 96. Moldova  Europe 16,719
 97. Saint Lucia Americas 16,509
 98. Armenia Asia 15,818
 99. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Americas 15,505
 100. Sri Lanka Asia 15,387

Details on the top 10 wealthiest countries in the world.

1. Luxembourg

GDP Per Capita: $140,694

Luxembourg is a country in Europe which most people cannot even find on a map; but it is the richest country in the world by GDP figures. The Archduchy of Luxembourg is a constitutional Monarchy; and Archduke Henry is the King. Luxembourg is a landlocked country; but that has not been a bad thing.

Luxembourg is surrounded by countries like Germany, France and Belgium. It benefits from these countries in the area of economy, technology and commerce.

Luxembourg is described as having a stable, high income market economy. Some of the major economic sectors in Luxembourg include manufacturing, insurance and banking, technology, and agriculture. As for the manufacturing industry: steel making, chemicals, and rubber are important; as for agriculture, it is very diverse; animal farming, grains, and fruits are important products.

The financial services sector in Luxembourg is very developed; Luxembourg is a tax haven, and attracts money from all over the world, while citizens of many European countries choose this country to live after retirement, bringing in all their money and investments.

Luxembourg hosts many multinationals in the tech industry; chief among them being Skype and Amazon. Many tech start-ups choose Luxembourg because of the ease of doing business, and because as a tax haven it offers a very good financial climate for business.

2. Singapore

GDP Per Capita: $131,580

Singapore is an island country in Southeast Asia. Singapore has a land area of 733.1 km2, and a population of 5.4 million people. Singapore is quite a small country; but one that is very attractive to people from all over the world. Singapore was once a territory of the United Kingdom, and today there are still many ancestral Britons among its multi-ethnic society.

Singapore is a very well developed economy; some of the key sectors include aviation, financial services, maritime and shipping, as well as hospitality. Singapore has one of the biggest real estate markets in the world- evidence of a rapidly developing society that is attractive to people from all over the world. Singapore has been noted as one of the most expensive cities to live in for expatriates and foreign workers.

Citizens of Singapore enjoy a very high quality of life; education, healthcare, personal safety, infrastructure, quality of life, and housing are all rated very high. In fact 88 percent of Singaporeans own their homes. Singaporeans also enjoy one of the longest life expectancies, and lowest infant mortality rates in the world. They also enjoy some of the fastest Internet connection speeds, and their society is virtually corruption-free.

3. Ireland

GDP Per Capita: $124,596

Ireland is a country in Western Europe, which is identical in so many ways with Great Britain. Ireland has a land area of 84,421 km2, and a population of about 7 million. Ireland is the third-largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest on Earth.

It is a multi-ethnic society, although nearly 97 percent of the population is white. Even though the society is western, there is a strong cultural identity among the Irish; and this is evidenced by their music, sports, dressing, and cultural celebrations.

The economy of Ireland is very developed and diversified. Some of the key sectors are manufacturing, banking, and services. The manufacturing industry is boosted by the production of drugs, vaccines, and other pharmaceutical products. Medical instruments also make up an important of the country’s yearly exports.

Tourism is also a very important sector; there are many prehistoric sites in Ireland, some of which have been designated as World Heritage Sites. They draw in large numbers of visitors, as well as researchers and nature enthusiasts.

4. Qatar

GDP Per Capita: $112,789

The State of Qatar is a country in Western Asia. It is on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and its nearest neighbor is Saudi Arabia to the south, while the rest of the country surrounded by the Persian Gulf. Qatar is a constitutional monarchy; the Emir is a hereditary position.

Qatar is a multi- ethnic society; the country’s demographic is 40% Arab, 36% South Asian, (of which 18% is Pakistani, and 18% is Indian), 10% Iranian. Arabic is the official language, but English is commonly spoken. 80% of the nation’s population lives in Doha- the country’s capital.

Qatar’s economy is heavily reliant on the oil industry; crude oil, as well as natural gas, and other by products of petroleum account for the bulk of the country’s exports. However, the tourism industry is also quite important, and other sectors like the hospitality and aviation sectors are also important.

5. Macao

GDP Per Capita: $85,611

Macao is a city on a small peninsular adjoining China. It is officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. It has a land area of 32.9 km2, and a population of 680,000, making it the most densely populated region in the world.

Macao was formerly a Portuguese colony; in 1557 the Ming Dynasty leased the area to Portuguese who used it as a trading post. The colony was only just returned back to China in 1999. Macao has a society that is multi-ethnic; 88.4% of its population is Han Chinese, 4.6% Filipino, 2.4% Vietnamese, 1.7% Portuguese, and 2.8% is made up of other nationalities.

The economy of Macao is boosted by the gambling industry; it is 7 times larger than Las Vegas, and draws in high-stakers from all over the world. Of course, a big gambling industry needs standard hotels and casinos, as well as restaurants, financial services, and many other related sectors to make the economy function smoothly.

6. Switzerland

GDP Per Capita: $84,658

Switzerland is a country in Europe; it is located at the confluence of Western, Central, and Southern Europe. The country is landlocked; some of its neighbors are Italy, France, Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein. Much of Switzerland is mountainous, and even many of places not officially listed as mountains have very high elevations. Switzerland has a land area of 41,285 km2, and a population of 8,5 million.

Switzerland is largely accepted as the capital of the world’s banking system; the financial services sector plays a big part in the economy. Switzerland is also the capital of the world’s pharmaceutical industry; there are several multinational pharmaceutical companies located in Switzerland; and there is probably more priority information in the pharmaceutical industry in Switzerland than anywhere else in the world.

Other multinational companies from Switzerland include; Nestle, Rolex, The Swatch Group, Tetra Pak, and Mediterranean Shipping Company.

7. United Arab Emirates

GDP Per Capita: $78,255

The United Arab Emirates is a country in the Western Asia. The country is located on the eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, and has neighbors like Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran. Abu Dhabi is the nation’s capital, while Dubai, the most populous city, is an international hub. The United Arab Emirates has a land area of 83,600 km2, and a population of 10 million.

United Arab Emirates is multi-ethnic society; the demographic is broken down into 35.0% Indian, 15.0% Emirati, 10.7% Bangladeshi, 9.7% Pakistani, 2.0% Yemeni, 8.8% Egyptian, 5.5% Filipino, 3.2% Sri Lankans, 3.1% Indonesian, 1.6% Jordanian, while 7.8% is a mix of other unspecified minorities.

The United Arab Emirates is one of the richest countries in the world because there has been deliberate effort to diversify the economy, and to improve the quality of life of its citizens. Some of the major economic activities include; oil exploration, gold mining and refining, international trade, tourism, aviation, and retail commerce.

The government provides many services to its citizens, and there is no income tax, although there is a corporate tax for companies. There is also a 5% value-added tax.

8. Norway

GDP Per Capita: $77,808

Norway is country in Europe; the country is a Kingdom; a constitutional monarchy, and is located in Northern Europe. Norway has a great and storied history; and even today, it has one of the richest cultures in Europe. Norway has a land area of 385,207 square kilometers, and a population of 5.4 million.

Norway has a very developed society; infrastructure is well designed and maintained, and the government provides excellent social services for the people. Education, employment, healthcare, security, and other indices show that the citizens of this country enjoy a very high standard of life.

The economy of Norway is boosted by oil production; crude oil, refined petroleum, and petroleum gas make up a good portion of the country’s exports. Processed fish, raw aluminum and other raw materials also contribute immensely to the economy of the country.

Norway ranks as the second-wealthiest country in the world in monetary value. The country also has the largest capital reserve per capita of any nation in the world. The government has made good use of the financial surplus it has earned through oil sales; The Government Pension Fund of Norway has over US$1.19 trillion in assets, and it is the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund.

9. United States

GDP Per Capita: $76,027

The United States Of America is a country in North America. Its neighbors are Canada and Mexico. America is big, and diverse; it has 50 states, one federal territory, 326 Indian reservations which have some measure of sovereignty, as well as five unincorporated territories, and nine small, distant islands.

The United States has a land area of 3,796,742 sq mi, and 331 Million. The United States is one of the world’s biggest countries by land area, and also by population. It is also one of the most culturally diverse nations on earth, its demographics being; 61.6% White, 12.4% Black, 6% Asian, 1.1% Native American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 10.2% Multiracial, and other ethnic identities make up 8.4% of the population.

The economy of the United States is very well diversified; manufacturing, retail commerce, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and military equipment are some key sectors. Computers, auto vehicles, medicines, fashion and clothing, technology, and machinery are some important exports of the United States.

The New York Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization of the listed companies; this is because the United States is bustling with publicly traded companies in all sectors, also creating wealth with an immense amount of jobs.

The US Dollar is also the currency most used for international transactions. It is also the most important currency for government reserves in the world.

10. Brunei

GDP Per Capita: $74,953

Brunei is a country in Southeast Asia. Brunei is located on the north coast of the island of Borneo; it is almost completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak; but it has a coast meeting the South China Sea. Its neighbors are Malaysia and Indonesia. Brunei has a land area of 5,765 km2, and a population of 460,345. It is quite a small country; ruled by the Sultan- an absolute hereditary monarch.

Brunei’s economy is heavily dependent on oil revenues; the country’s major exports are petroleum gas, and crude oil. Nevertheless, Brunei has a very good standard of living; it has the second-highest Human Development Index among the Southeast Asian nations.

Brunei also provides a lot of social cover to its citizens; the government provides for all medical services, as well as provides subsidies for rice and housing. Revenues from overseas investment are added to domestic income to pay for these recurrent expenditures.

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Closing

The richest countries in the world also have poor people living within their borders, just as poor countries also have extremely wealthy citizens enjoying their plunder while the rest of the country wallows in lack and deprivation. Wealth is counted quite differently among countries than it is among individuals.

This is because while some countries have very large reserves, they are not able (or willing) to provide a good quality of life for most of their citizens. Associated with national wealth is the human development index, which measures the quality of life of the larger population of any country.