Which is Africa’s wealthiest nation? Is it perhaps Nigeria, seeing as it has the highest GDP? Actually, it turns out to be Seychelles, according to a recently released list by Global Finance magazine of the world’s richest and poorest countries.

Rankings were based on IMF data, comparing GDP per capita and purchasing power parity (PPP) in current international dollars between 2009 and 2013. Considering a country’s PPP offers a more accurate reflection of its wealth, as it takes into account its standard of living and inflation rate. By that measure, the tiny island nation off the coast of East Africa beats the rest of the continent with its per capita GDP (PPP) of nearly US$26 200.

First place globally goes to Qatar with a massive US$105 091. At the other end of the spectrum is the DRC, which at just under US$400 is the world’s poorest country.

28 July 2015
Image: Gallo/GettyImages