Burundi, a small, landlocked country in East Africa, holds the unfortunate title of being the poorest nation in the world. According to data from the World Population Review, Burundi ranks at the very bottom in terms of Gross National Income per capita, a key measure of economic well-being.

With a GNI per capita of just $270 (£205), the financial disparity between Burundi and the world's wealthiest nations is staggering. For comparison, Norway, which has the highest GNI per capita globally, stands at $78,250 (£59,675), an astonishing 289 times higher. Burundi’s economy faces immense structural challenges. With limited natural resources, a predominantly agricultural economy, and a history of political instability, the country struggles to develop industries that could improve living standards.

More than 80% of Burundi's population relies on subsistence farming, yet frequent droughts, soil degradation, and a lack of modern agricultural techniques keep productivity low. The nation's dependence on coffee and tea exports makes it vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices, further deepening its economic struggles.

Adding to the hardship, Burundi has endured decades of political unrest and ethnic conflicts, which have hindered infrastructure development and deterred foreign investment.

A prolonged civil war, which lasted from 1993 to 2005, left deep scars on the country and its economy. Even today, allegations of government corruption, human rights abuses, and a lack of democratic freedoms continue to stifle economic progress.

Burundi’s ranking as the poorest nation is not an isolated statistic but part of a broader trend in Africa, where many countries face extreme poverty.

In fact, nine out of the 10 poorest countries in the world are African. The only non-African country that would rank among them is Afghanistan, which has a GNI per capita of $500 (£381).

However, experts believe that other nations, such as North Korea, Syria, and Yemen, could potentially join the list if they disclosed their economic data.

Despite these dire statistics, there are glimmers of hope for Africa’s economic future. Several nations on the continent have made significant strides in development and infrastructure, with some achieving rapid economic growth in the last two decades.