Richest and Poorest Countries in the World

Worlds Wealthiest/Poorest Nations and Poorest Nations in the Western Hemisphere_According to the Human Development Index (United Nations)

HDI, or Human Development Index is the way the United Nations measures the well being of the populations of the world by their respective countries.  Many blogs use Wikipedia’s GDP to gauge or rank a countries wealth, however that is not a proper assessment.  For example, China ranks #2 for GDP, meaning that they are the second wealthiest nation behind the United States.  However, on the HDI, China ranks 101st, lower than Belize and the Dominican Republic, which I have listed as the 9^th and 10th poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.   The HDI gives a better idea of the conditions people are living in.  Statistics for the HDI include life expectancy, literacy, education, and standards of living.  To view the whole report, you can CLICK HERE.  A few points of interest: The western hemisphere is in much better shape as far as standards of living compared to the east.  Granted most of the worlds population is in the east.  Sweden ranks #1 for gender equality, Libya dropped dramatically 10 spots because of the war, Turkey and Ukraine each rose 3 spots due to economic development and the government investing their new wealth in the people.  There were virtually no shifts in the top 10 Highly Human Developed nations from the previous year.

Wealthiest Countries of the World by (HDI) Very High Human Development

1. Norway

2. Australia

3. Netherlands

4. United States

5. New Zealand

6. Canada

7. Ireland

8. Liechtenstein

9. Germany

10. Sweden

Poorest Countries of the World by (HDI) Low Human Development

1. Congo, Democratic Republic of the

2. Niger

3. Burundi

4. Mozambique

5. Chad

6. Liberia

7. Burkina Faso

8. Sierra Leone

9. Central African Republic

10. Guinea

Poorest Countries in the Western Hemisphere by (HDI)

1. Haiti     Ranks 158 out of 187 nations Low Developed

2. Guatemala     Ranks 131 out of 187 nations Low Developed

3. Nicaragua     Ranks 129 out of 187 nations Low Developed

4. Honduras     Ranks 121 out of 187 nations Low Developed

5. Bolivia     Ranks 108 out of 187 nations Med Developed

6. Paraguay     Ranks 107 out of 187 nations Med Developed

7. El Salvador     Ranks 105 out of 187 nations Med Developed

8. Suriname     Ranks 104 out of 187 nations Med Developed

9. Dominican Republic     Ranks 98 out of 187 nations Med Developed

10. Belize     Ranks 93 out of 187 nations –High Developed

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