The dream of all countries of the world can rightly be called the desire to be among the richest states. This status satisfies national pride on the international scene and the needs of its citizens. The wealth of a country is measured by two standard methods. The first is to determine the size of the GDP (gross domestic product). It is an indicator of the level of the economic sphere of the state. The second method is determined by specifying the size of the gross domestic product per capita.
1 Country Qatar - 103.4 thousand US dollars
This state is the leader in terms of wealth on a global scale. Qatar is small in size and has large oil reserves. Natural gas, which lies in the bowels of Qatar, is about thirteen percent of the reserves of this mineral worldwide. So, poverty and financial problems for this state are not terrible for about a century. The country is also known for its low taxes.
2 Country Luxembourg - 77.9 thousand US dollars
The state has low rates of inflationary processes, a high level of innovative research, a developed banking sector that creates good conditions for investment. These indicators affect the moderate stable growth of the economic sphere of Luxembourg. The Grand Duchy began the development of industrial growth with steel production. Then the country took up other branches of the industrial sector, namely the chemical and rubber. But still, in comparison with the size of the gross domestic product in 2008, in 2013 this indicator decreased by three percent.
3 Country Singapore - 62.4 thousand US dollars
It is a small state in southeast Asia. Singapore can be proud of the fourteenth place among all countries in terms of export transactions, as well as fifteenth in terms of imports. The assignment of AAA credit rating, based on the data of the largest and most popular agencies, indicates the high development of the country's economy. Thanks to the legalization of the gambling business, tourists visit Singapore every year. Naturally, this also has a beneficial effect on the flourishing of the economic sphere.
4 Country Norway - 55.4 thousand US dollars
Norway has the highest standard of living. The development of the economy depends on the sale of gas and oil to other countries. Effective and stable financial prosperity of the state is carried out precisely thanks to imports. There are very few unemployed people here. Also, medicine is provided absolutely free of charge.
5 Country Brunei Darussalam - 54.8 thousand US dollars
It is the only sovereign state of the island of Borneo in southeast Asia. Developed oil and gas excavations ensured stable economic growth. 2011 was a landmark year for Brunei. The IMF singled it out (along with Libya) in that the public debt amounted to zero percent of the state's gross domestic product.
6 United States of America - 52.8 thousand US dollars
"World power" use many influential levers in the economy on many states. American goods are used in all parts of the world. In 2013, the US ranked first in terms of gross domestic product. Its increase was at the level of 13.6 percent (since 2008).
7 The seventh place in the TOP 10 richest countries in the world is occupied by the Country of Hong Kong - 52.7 thousand US dollars
It is an administrative region of China. Its area is 1070 km2. It is the most developed financial center in Asia. Hong Kong is a deep natural cargo port. The tourism sector brings the lion's share of income to the state budget.
8 Country Switzerland - 45.9 thousand US dollars
The policy of protectionism contributed to the economic development of Switzerland. Due to its high income, the country subsidizes agriculture and the banking sector.
Summing up, we can say that the richest state is Qatar, its GDP is 104 thousand US dollars. And Canada is one of the largest and richest countries, just like the United States.
April 9, 2013
What do you think what richest countries in the world, and is included in this number? To determine which country is the richest in the world, you need to look at the indicator GDP per capita. This indicator can be expressed in nominal terms, i.e. in terms of national currencies in US dollars at market exchange rates. But in different countries the same amount of money cannot buy the same amount of goods and services. Therefore, there is another, more accurate indicator economic development countries - GDP per capita, calculated at purchasing power parity.
Top 20 richest countries in the world
20. UK - $35,053
19. Germany - $35,930
18. Belgium - $36,274
17. Iceland - $36,681
16. Denmark - $36,764
15. United Arab Emirates - $36,973
14. Sweden - $37,775
13. Kuwait - $38,293
12. Ireland - $38,685
11. Canada - $39,033
10. Austria - $39,454
9. Australia - $39,692
8. Netherlands - $40,777
7. Switzerland - $41,765
6. USA - $47,123
5. Brunei - $47,200
4. Norway - $52,238
3. Singapore - $57,238
2. Luxembourg - $80,304
1. Qatar - $88,232
As we can see, 12 of the 20 richest countries in the world are located in Western Europe. However, the richest country in the world is still in Asia - it is Qatar, the lion's share of the economy of which is in the oil sector. Worthy competition to Western countries in terms of living standards is made up of other Asian countries - Singapore (which is not an oil-producing country), as well as the oil-producing countries of Brunei, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, can also be added to the most developed economies in the world. GDP per capita in Hong Kong is higher than, for example, in Switzerland, which is also one of the most in the world.
Japan is in the top twenty countries based on nominal GDP per capita, but due to its very high price level in purchasing power parity, it ranks only 24th.
Among the 20 richest countries in the world there are no representatives of Latin America and Africa. However, they can be ranked separately.
richest countries in latin america
12. Brazil - $11,289
11. Venezuela - $11,889
10. Panama - $12,397
8. Mexico - $14,266
7. Uruguay - $14,342
6. Chile - $14,982
5. Argentina - $15,603
4 Antigua and Barbuda - $16,566
3. Trinidad and Tobago - $20,137
2. Barbados - $22,296
1. Bahamas - $25,884
richest countries in africa
10. Namibia - $6,945
9. Algiers - $7,103
8. Tunisia - $9,488
7. South Africa - $10,505
6. Mauritius - $13,214
5. Gabon - $14,865
4. Libya - $14,878
3. Botswana - $15,449
2. Equatorial Guinea - $18,387
1. Seychelles - $24,837
The above-mentioned top ten richest African countries have a higher GDP per capita than, for example, Ukraine ($6,665 per capita). As for the countries former USSR, then the richest of them is Estonia ($18,274 per capita). In second place is Lithuania (16.997), in third is Russia (15.807).
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What is required to develop the economy of the state and provide for the population the highest level life? Let's find out what the richest countries in the world have done for this and what is the secret of their prosperity!
TOP 10 richest countries in the worldper capita income
There are 246 states in the world. The topic of this article includes ten of them - with the highest standard of living. An interesting feature This category of countries is the correct disposal of available natural resources or the use of a favorable geographical position for the benefit of the economy.
One way or another, with an economically competent approach, even a fragrant oasis can be made from a lifeless desert. For this, it is desirable that fountains of oil gush out of the sand. However, the availability of valuable resources is not at all the main factor for rapid economic growth! We will be convinced of this by looking at the richest countries and learning the secrets of their prosperity.
As for the living conditions in various regions of our vast country, due to their predominantly economic, as well as their geographical position, they are strikingly different from each other and have their own characteristics. Read about the advantages of living in a particular city in Russia in additional material link:
richest countriesin terms of income of the population: 1st place - Qatar
According to most rating agencies for last years, the top 10 richest countries in the world, with an impressive margin from competitors, is headed by the Arab state of Qatar. This is not only the richest, but also the smallest country in terms of area of the Arabian Peninsula, where it is located. The territory of Qatar occupies only a peninsula on the southwestern coast of the Persian Gulf. By land, Qatar borders Saudi Arabia, and by sea, the closest neighbors are the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
The Qatari peninsula is mostly desert, with poor wildlife and rare oases in the northern part. The area is 11,586 square kilometers (for comparison, the area of the Moscow region occupies almost 46,000 km!), And the population is a little more than two million, 90% of which live in the capital Doha and its environs.
Under extremely unfavorable conditions for life, the current level of prosperity for the state was provided by rich oil and gas deposits located in the northern part of the peninsula. Qatar has the third largest natural gas reserves in the world! In terms of oil reserves - 21st! Today, half of the GDP and 70% of the state budget revenue is provided by the extraction of energy resources and their export, mostly to Southeast Asia.
In addition to the extraction and processing of petroleum products, the country has a developed chemical and metallurgical industry. A large steel-smelting enterprise is engaged in the smelting of imported raw materials, and chemical plants produce fertilizers and by-products of oil refining. Agriculture in Qatar is poorly developed and is able to satisfy only a tenth of the population's needs for food, so up to 90% of the share food products accounted for by imports. Also, a fair share of imports falls on various equipment and vehicles.
The government is concerned about attracting foreign investment in non-resource sectors and areas of the economy, seeking to reduce the level of dependence on the still available oil and gas resources. The goal is to reorient the economy as much as possible from the extraction of minerals to the production of goods.
Like other richest countries in the world, Qatar boasts a developed financial sector with a dozen and a half major credit institutions. These include local commercial banks and foreign branches, as well as tax-exempt offshore banks. In addition, the country also has a national airline, Qatar Airways, serving over 140 international routes to all inhabited continents of the planet. Qatar Airlines is listed among the top seven in the world in terms of quality and level of service.
The well-being of the peninsular Islamic state is based on the extraction, processing and supply of the most valuable natural raw materials. On a per capita basis for a relatively small population, Qatar's GDP is $145,000 per person per year! The rest of the richest countries are only half that!
List of richest countries: in second place - Luxembourg
Luxembourg is the smallest European state in terms of territory. Included in the top 10 richest countries in the world. Located between Belgium, France and Germany on an area of just over 2,500 square kilometers. The population is 576,000 people.
Another income item that forms a tenth of GDP is mining iron ore and production for export of cast iron and iron. Raw materials are mined at a large deposit, part of which is located on the territory of the southern borders of the state. Contributes to the development of the economy and the service sector, especially in the financial field. Also on the territory of Luxembourg are based several golf clubs, hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars and more - with the best level of service.
Foreign companies open their production factories here, since in addition to the absence of taxation, the knowledge of several languages by local workers is a plus. official languages are Luxembourgish, French and German. It produces audio-video and telecommunication equipment, chemical products, glass and fabrics. The country imports energy carriers for industrial enterprises and electricity in full, as well as transport and equipment.
The main inflow of money in is formed due to the provision of services to international financial institutions. This is over 60% of GDP. but given fact makes the economy extremely sensitive to financial crises and the general economic situation in the rest of the world. Plus there is an impressive external debt.
However, all the negative factors do not prevent Luxembourg from taking second place in the ranking of the top 10 richest countries. The highest standard of living of citizens is ensured thanks to the average annual income per capita, which is about 128,000 dollars a year!
The richest countries in Asia– Singapore
The first line of the TOP of the richest countries in Asia and the third place in the world is held by Singapore, which covers an area of only 719 square kilometers and is located on 63 islands. The population is 5 million people, of which more than 70% are Chinese. Due to the lack of space, artificial alluvium has been carried out for the entire time since the founding of the state in 1965. Singapore used to be part of Malaysia.
Separation from Malaysia left Singapore with little to no natural resources even without their own drinking water. However, competent economic policy government for some 20-30 years has turned a poor country into a prosperous one. The basis of success was the decision to create on the basis of Singapore the financial and economic center of the entire Southeast Asia. This was achieved by attracting foreign investment and organizing a favorable financial and economic climate.
Currently, high-tech electronics of the world's largest manufacturers are produced in Singapore, shipbuilding, the financial services segment, pharmaceuticals are developed, and developments in the field of biotechnology are also underway. It has its own airline, Singapore Airlines, serving over 40 million passengers a year.
A powerful economic and technological leap raised the level of the average annual income of the population before the onset of the 21st century by several dozen times and remained in history as the “Singapore economic miracle”. Gross national product according to 2015 data was $85,000 per person per year. Singapore is an excellent example of an efficient organization of the economy based on the use of foreign investment, having no natural resources of its own at all.
Switzerland - 4th place in the TOP 10 richest countries
Switzerland is a state in Western Europe, lost among the most beautiful Alpine mountains, which occupy more than half of its entire territory. total area– 41,300 square kilometers, of which 25% is occupied by forests. The country is rich in lakes formed as a result of melting glaciers, of which there are currently about 140 with a total area of 2000 km2, and large rivers flowing through its territory. Stocks fresh water here they make up 6% of all European ones.
Manifold ski resorts and other interesting sights attract an endless stream of tourists here. An excellent level of service has firmly established Switzerland as one of the the best resorts of the world, and the tourism direction, together with the entire service sector, makes up the lion's share of budget revenues - 70%.
Switzerland is also famous for its reliable banks, where the protection of the confidentiality of customer data is almost written into the constitution. Such a serious approach to banking secrecy attracts many investors from all over the world who want to keep their money, including not entirely honestly acquired. Information can be released only at the official request of state authorities and in case of suspicion of the client in committing illegal acts or concealing taxes.
More than 4,000 financial and credit institutions, including foreign ones, have offices in Switzerland. The country is also actively involved in investing its own funds in various projects around the world, 30% of annual GDP is spent on this. In essence, Switzerland makes money by passing a lot of money through its banks.
Switzerland has a well-developed energy sector - the country covers 90% of its electricity needs, half of it is from hydroelectric power plants, 40% of energy is provided by nuclear power, and the remaining 10% is generated from imported energy sources. HPPs are located in the Alps, where several dozen reservoirs have been created for these purposes. Nuclear power plants are closely monitored by environmentalists due to their potential danger, but they are still functioning. But there are no plans to build new nuclear power plants.
The population of Switzerland is 8 million people. Developed economy, a stable exchange rate of the national currency and a competent foreign policy allows you to keep calm within the state and provide the Swiss with the highest standard of living. The average annual GDP per capita is $81,000.
Norway is the richest Nordic country in Europe
The list of the richest countries includes one of the northern European states - Norway. Its predominantly mountainous territory occupies the entire western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, many small adjacent islands and the vast Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. The total area is 385,000 square kilometers. It borders on Sweden, Finland and Russia. The number of inhabitants of Norway is 5,245,000 people. The high standard of living and security of the Norwegians is confirmed by the size of the GDP: $ 75,000 per person per year.
Norway is also engaged in oil and gas production, which provides about a third of the state budget revenues. The country is the leading European supplier of hydrocarbons and the second in the world after the UAE. Oil is produced on the sea shelves. Norway specializes in the production of ocean drilling platforms and technologies for the safe extraction of resources.
Thanks to the presence of forests, which occupy 30% of the area and a developed woodworking industry, Norway occupies a leading position in the world in the production and export of pulp. Also on the territory of the state are the richest deposits of minerals. The country supplies iron, magnesium, aluminum, titanium and other metals.
Another significant part of the income is the extraction and processing of fish. In terms of its importance, the fish processing sector of the economy is on a par with oil and gas production. The main buyer of finished fish products is Russia. In addition, many Russian fishing vessels sell fish to Norwegian companies for processing.
Despite the availability of natural energy sources - oil and gas, 95% of electricity in Norway is generated by hydroelectric power plants. The rest is provided by the operation of wind farms. The country provides itself with electricity, which makes it possible to export almost all of the produced hydrocarbons.
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The tourism industry is widely developed. The entire coast of Norway is literally indented by numerous fjords, along which cruise ships and yachts ply. Picturesque cliffs and the cleanest sea, combined with a favorable environmental situation and security of the country, attracts millions of tourists every year.
Kuwait is another oil tycoon
Kuwait is located on the northeast coast of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Together with its islands in the bay, the state covers an area of slightly less than 18,000 km - this is 152nd in the world. Most of the area is desert. The population of Kuwait is 2,600,000 people, over 95% live in cities.
Kuwait was one of the poorest countries in the early to mid-twentieth century. Thanks to the discovery of large oil fields on its territory in the 1930s, through production and export, in just half a century, it was possible to raise the economy and the standard of living of the population to one of the highest rates in the world.
In the early 1990s, the Kuwaitis survived the Iraqi occupation, which almost completely destroyed and plundered the country. Over the next few years, the state restored oil production and supplies and regained its former prosperity.
Today Kuwait is one of the richest countries in oil, its reserves are approximately 9% of the world's. Kuwait's main trading partners in the export of petroleum products are India, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.
Export volumes of "black gold" form up to 95% of state budget revenue and 65% of GDP. In per capita terms, that's $70,000 a year!
UAE: the basis of the economy is oil production and tourism
The United Arab Emirates is located on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The area is 83,600 square kilometers, about 8,000,000 people live here, more than 60% of which are visiting workers from South and Southeast Asia.
The UAE has huge oil reserves, the share of exports of which brings 45% of GDP to the budget. This indicator was achieved thanks to the policy of economic diversification adopted in the 1980s. Before the measures were taken, oil provided more than 75% of the income to the state treasury. On a per capita basis, the current level of GDP is $66,000 per person per year.
The United Arab Emirates, thanks to oil exports, has achieved significant prosperity in a relatively short time - since 1971, the moment of its separation from Oman. The rapid recovery of the economy was facilitated by high oil prices at that time. At the same time, banking services and the tourism sector have developed, which now bring in most of the income.
Profitable geographical position made it possible to make the UAE a major international trade and economic center, linking the west and east. The major seaports of Dubai and Fujairah emirates handle millions of containers annually. Six international airports serve over 60 million passengers a year.
Most of the territory of the UAE is occupied by the desert, and the arid climate does not favor the development of agriculture at all. Nevertheless, thanks to investments in this industry, it has been possible to make it prosperous even in such conditions. Some of the products are even exported to Europe, such as strawberries. Also in Dubai is the world's largest flower park.
Particular attention is paid to creating favorable conditions for tourism in the desert. For example, artificial islands in Dubai, which have become one of the wonders of the world, luxury hotels, largest shopping centers and high quality service - everything is done to attract tourists from all over the world.
Saudi Arabia is the richest country in oil
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula. Its area is 2,200,000 square kilometers, it is not possible to accurately determine due to the difficulty of demarcating the borders in the desert. However, it is reliably known that the occupied territory is in 13th place in the world in terms of area. The population is 31.5 million people.
Saudi Arabia is in first place in terms of oil production. Only Russia and the USA can compete with it! The share among the total oil production in the world is 13%! For reference, the richest country in terms of oil reserves is Venezuela (46 billion tons), and Saudi Arabia is in second place (36 billion tons).
It is not surprising that for the most part its economy is built on the processing and export of hydrocarbons. Saudi Arabia plays a key role in pricing. The price dynamics of black gold literally depends on it, and hence the enormous influence of the Arab oil power on the other richest countries involved in oil and the world economy as a whole. The share of income from oil exports is 75% of GDP. In terms of per capita for the year, the figure is 51,000 dollars.
In addition to oil revenue, the kingdom has five airlines and six international airports. The economy receives large incomes from the annual pilgrimages to Mecca, where about two million people come.
Saudi Arabia, among other things, stands out for its mediocre attitude towards respect for human rights. In the kingdom, the cutting off of hands for theft is still in use, the death penalty for actions that in other states are not classified as illegal at all! This is a tribute to the observance of Sharia law, on the principles of which criminal law is based. For this reason, the most oil-rich country is constantly criticized by international human rights organizations.
Brunei - immersed in luxury
In the ranking of the richest countries, Brunei ranks ninth among countries in the world and second in Asia. Located on the northwestern coast of the island of Kalimantan in the South China Sea, the country covers an area of only 6,000 square kilometers on it and borders on land only with Malaysia. The population of Brunei does not exceed 500,000 people. Almost half of the working population are visiting citizens of the regions of South and Southeast Asia.
Brunei is included in the list of the richest countries thanks to the gross national income, which, in terms of one inhabitant, is $ 50,000 per year. The economy of one of the richest countries in Asia is built 90% on the production and import of oil and gas. Large deposits are located on the shelves of the South China Sea. The main buyers are Japan and Indonesia. Along with the oil and gas industry, the chemical and pulp and paper industries are well developed, and mineral fertilizers are also produced for export.
Despite favorable equatorial climate, allowing you to harvest several times a year and an abundance of tropical rainforests, occupying almost 80% of the territory, Agriculture rather underdeveloped. More than 70% of food, as well as other consumer goods, is imported from Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and China.
Since 1975, under the flag of the state, the national airline Royal Brunei Airlines, wholly owned by the government and serving about twenty destinations, has been carrying out international flights. The country is actively trying to diversify the economy by stimulating the development of the tourist destination. The country is extremely colorful, rich in sights with a long history and literally saturated with luxury. The policy is also aimed at stimulating the financial sector of the economy and attracting foreign investment.
Hong Kong is the largest financial and trade center in Asia
Hong Kong is a separate administrative-territorial unit of the People's Republic of China and is the world's largest financial and trade center. The country is located on the southern coast of China, occupies a peninsula and 260 nearby islands of the South China Sea.
The area of the territory is 1100 square kilometers. It is noteworthy that urbanization has affected only 30 percent of the entire area of the state. Most of it is covered with forests untouched by civilization and has the status of national parks, reserves and nature protection zones. An important role in terms of preserving the virgin territory was played by hilly terrain with steep mountains that prevented its development.
The population of Hong Kong is 7,200,000 people. The density per square kilometer is 6400 people! This is one of the highest rates in the world! More - only in Monaco (18,600 people per km2) and in Singapore (7,600 people per km2)! The rest of the richest countries have a population density of no more than 2,000 people per square kilometer. In connection with such a high number of inhabitants, the ecology in cities, especially in the capital, leaves much to be desired. This is despite the abundance of green spaces there, the presence major rivers and government concern for the environment.
The progress of economic development is due to government policy: low taxation, the status of a free port and the complete non-interference of state bodies in the regulation of market relations. Only a small list of goods is subject to excise duties on imports: alcohol, tobacco, methyl alcohol and mineral oils. The rest of the turnover takes place absolutely without the collection of any duties and fees.
Hong Kong is the third largest financial and trade center in the world. Income from services in the financial and banking sectors form up to 90% of government revenues. Industry and agriculture are very poorly developed, and Hong Kong imports the bulk of the necessary goods.
In terms of the speed of economic development, Hong Kong is ahead of the rest of the richest countries and is inferior, perhaps, to Singapore. In terms of GDP per capita, Hong Kong is ahead of not only the cities of mainland China, but also many other rich countries - $ 38,000 a year. Despite this, 20% of Hong Kong residents live below the poverty line and in poverty. Social benefits and benefits provided by the government do not fundamentally improve the situation until today.
Another problem is the lack of living space and exorbitant prices per square meter of housing. Approximately half a million residents huddle in social "apartments" with an area of only 2-4 square meters! Living in cardboard boxes on the street is also one of the shocking realities of seemingly prosperous Hong Kong.
Conclusion
The industrially developed and richest countries of the Arabian Peninsula are firmly seated on the oil and gas "needle". As long as natural resources are not depleted and domestic policy is not changed, the well-being of their citizens will be ensured. However, this will not last forever - according to various estimates, the level of production will begin to fall in a matter of decades. Therefore, governments have long thought about expanding the areas of income generation and economic diversification.
The most backward in this regard is Brunei, where oil revenues are largely frozen while creating a luxurious environment inside the country itself. The UAE, for example, has long mastered the niche of tourism, and has created favorable conditions for recreation, in fact, in the desert.
The richest countries in Asia have done the most in terms of development from scratch. Having created an economy literally from scratch, having no resources, but competently using the geographical position and attracting foreign capital in every way.
The richest countries in Europe for the most part do not have enough natural resources to provide a high standard of living for their citizens. Nevertheless, they managed to find their niche and firmly establish themselves in the global economic system. As for the richest state in resources - Russia - in the list of the richest countries, it is in only 50th place.
How to find out which country is the richest on the planet? When making this assessment, several different criteria can be used. The simplest is to compare the gross domestic product (GDP) or gross national income (GNI) of individual states. At the same time, we must not forget that these indicators characterize the state of a particular country as a whole, while its inhabitants can live quite poorly. China is a prime example. Proceeding from such considerations, it would be most expedient to take as a basic criterion such a criterion that actually reflects the well-being of each individual citizen of the state - GDP per capita. This article lists the 10 richest countries in the world in ascending order of this indicator (according to the results of 2013).
Austria
This state is located in central Europe. According to the results of last year, the GDP per each individual inhabitant of Austria was 39,711 US dollars. At the same time, it is impossible not to focus on the fact that in recent years this indicator has been constantly growing. At the heart of the economy of the state, which closes the top of the richest countries in the world, is the service sector, in particular, insurance and banking. In addition, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, as well as the chemical, textile and food industries play an important role in the development of Austria. There is practically no unemployment and inflation on its territory, which makes the state very attractive for investment.
Ireland
The Republic of Ireland is in ninth position in the ranking. Until the start of the financial crisis in 2008, it took over high step. The phenomenon of the rapid development of the state over the course of seven years (from 2001 to 2008) went down in history as the "Celtic Tiger". According to many experts, main secret such a stunning success lies in successful investments in information technology, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and financial services. Besides, active development countries contributed to the entry into the European Union. Ireland's GDP is $39,999 per capita.
Netherlands
In eighth place in the ranking of "The richest country in the world" last year settled the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The economy of the state is based on agriculture, metallurgy, petrochemical industry, construction of ships and aircraft. Despite the infertility of soils, approximately 65% of the country's territory is occupied by agricultural land. For every inhabitant of the Netherlands, there is 42,447 dollars of GDP. In general, just over 16.5 million people live on their territory.
Switzerland
The economy of Switzerland, which is inhabited by about 7.86 million people, is based on the chemical and food industries, as well as on tourism. The country is very attractive for investment, because people who invest their money in it can always be sure of their safety. Local banks have an excellent reputation, largely due to the stable political situation. GDP per capita is $46,424.
USA
The United States is the richest country in the North and South America. For more than a hundred years, the state has boasted the largest economy and largest sizes export of goods on the planet. At the same time, in terms of population, the United States is second only to China and India. This can explain the fact that GDP per capita here is only in sixth place in the world and amounts to 74,084 dollars. The country has many natural resources, which also include energy. The strongest industries in the economy are the oil industry, automotive, steel production and high technology.
Singapore
The richest country in the territory South-East Asia- Singapore. In the world rankings, it occupies the fifth position with a GDP per inhabitant of $56,579. The economy of the state is based on financial services, shipbuilding, chemical and electronic industries. The country achieved great success in its development largely due to attracting foreign investors about half a century ago, as well as due to the openness of the economy and overcoming corruption in it. It should be noted that a stable GDP growth in Singapore has been observed since 2008.
Norway
In fourth place in the list of the richest countries on the planet is Norway, with a population of 5 million people and a GDP of $56,920 for each of them. Key Industries national economy are the extraction of gas and oil, as well as their processing. They are owned by the state. Norway is one of the leaders in the export of these minerals.
UAE
The UAE closes the top three in the ranking of "The richest country in the world." Almost all locals(and there are about 8.26 million of them in the state) are Arab sheikhs. The GDP for each of them was $57,744 last year. The local economy is almost entirely built on the production and export of oil. It should be noted that in just a few decades, the state has turned from a backward category into one of the richest on the planet. This happened only after the discovery of huge deposits of black gold.
Luxembourg
A tiny state called Luxembourg tops the list of "Europe's richest countries" and is in second place in the world rankings. GDP per individual local citizen in 2013 was $89,562. At the same time, only 500 thousand people live in the state. There are more than a thousand investment funds and about two hundred banks in Luxembourg. No other country has so many similar organizations. The reason for this is rather banal: the presence of an offshore zone. Not surprisingly, banking and financial services have become the main sectors of the economy here.
Qatar
The richest country in the world is Qatar, which is a small emirate located on the Arabian Peninsula. It is home to 1.69 million inhabitants. An interesting nuance is that Qatari citizenship cannot be obtained under any circumstances. The size of GDP per capita last year was 91,379 US dollars. The reason for such wealth of the state lies in the fact that it ranks third on the planet in terms of natural gas reserves and is in sixth position in terms of its exports. In addition, Qatar is one of the largest exporters of oil, the extraction of which began here in the forties of the last century. After its independence from Great Britain was proclaimed in 1971, a giant deposit was discovered in the emirate. According to experts' forecasts, in a few years, the annual GDP per capita could grow to $111,000 for every Qatari.
Currently, the richest country in the world is spending huge sums of money on developing local infrastructure as well as diversifying its profits. As a result, the state's economy annually becomes less and less dependent on the export of energy resources. Among other things, the government of Qatar is constantly trying to attract foreign investors. It should be noted the complete absence of unemployment in the country and the high level of security in it.
The International Monetary Fund conducted a study in October 2017 and identified countries with the highest levels of GDP per capita.
Many of the countries that are among the richest in the world have oil and gas reserves on their territory, which favorably affects the development of their economies.
Investment and a strong banking system are factors that also play an important role in the economies of the richest countries.
"Vesti.Ekonomika" presents the 15 richest countries in the world.
15. Iceland
GDP per capita: $52,150
Iceland is an island nation located in the west of Northern Europe.
The Icelandic government has announced a massive program to build aluminum smelters.
Biotechnologies, tourism, banking business, information technologies are also actively developing.
In terms of the employment structure, Iceland looks like an industrialized country: 7.8% is employed in agriculture, 22.6% in industry, and 69.6% of the working population in the service sector. Tourism is the sector that accounts for the bulk of the country's GDP growth.
14. Netherlands
GDP per capita: $53,580
The Netherlands is a highly developed country economically. The service sector accounts for 73% of GDP, industry and construction - 24.5%, agriculture and fisheries - 2.5%.
Transport and communications, the credit and financial system, research and development (R&D), education, international tourism, and a range of business services predominate among the most important service delivery sectors.
13. Saudi Arabia
GDP per capita: $55,260
Saudi Arabia, with its colossal oil reserves, is the main state of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Oil exports account for 95% of exports and 75% of the country's income.
12. USA
GDP per capita: $59,500
The United States is a highly developed country, having the first economy in the world in terms of nominal GDP and the second in terms of GDP (PPP).
Although the country's population is only 4.3% of the world's, Americans own about 40% of the world's total wealth.
The United States leads the world in a number of socioeconomic indicators, including median wages, HDI, GDP per capita, and labor productivity.
While the US economy is post-industrial, characterized by the predominance of the service sector and the knowledge economy, the country's manufacturing sector remains the second largest in the world.
11. San Marino
GDP per capita: $60,360
San Marino is one of the smallest states in the world. It is located in Southern Europe, surrounded on all sides by the territory of Italy.
Inbound tourism plays a significant role in the country's economy; up to 2 million people are involved in the tourism industry on the territory of the state annually, and more than 3 million tourists visit the country every year.
10. Hong Kong
GDP per capita: $61,020
The economy of the territory is based on the free market, low taxation and non-intervention of the state in the economy. Hong Kong is not an offshore territory, it is a free port, and it does not charge customs duties on imports, there is no value added tax or its equivalent. Excises are levied on only four types of goods, regardless of whether they are imported or locally produced.
Hong Kong is an important center for international finance and trade, and the concentration of headquarters is the highest in the Asia-Pacific region. In terms of per capita gross domestic product and gross urban product, Hong Kong is the richest city in China.
9. Switzerland
GDP per capita: $61,360
The Swiss economy is one of the most stable in the world. The ongoing policy of long-term monetary security and banking secrecy has made Switzerland the place where investors are most confident in the safety of their funds, as a result of which the country's economy is becoming increasingly dependent on constant inflows of foreign investment.
Due to the small territory of the country and the high specialization of labor, industry and trade are key economic resources for Switzerland. Switzerland is the world leader in gold refining, processing two-thirds of the world's gold production.
8. UAE
GDP per capita: $68,250
The basis of the UAE economy is the re-export, trade, production and export of crude oil and gas. Oil production is approximately 2.2 million barrels per day, most of it is produced in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Other oil producers in importance are Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.
Oil fueled the rapid growth of the UAE economy in just a few decades, but other sectors of the economy also developed quite rapidly, especially foreign trade.
7. Kuwait
GDP per capita: $69,670
Kuwait is a state (sheikhdom) in Southwest Asia. An important oil exporter, a member of OPEC.
According to Kuwait's own assessment, it has large oil reserves - about 102 billion barrels, that is, 9% of the world's oil reserves.
Oil provides Kuwait with about 50% of GDP, 95% of export earnings and 95% of the state budget revenue.
6. Norway
GDP per capita: $70,590
Norway is the largest oil and gas producer in Northern Europe. Hydropower covers most of the energy needs, which allows most of the oil to be exported.
Oil funds serve for the development of future generations. On the territory of the country there are significant mineral reserves, a large merchant fleet.
Low inflation (3%) and unemployment (3%) compared to the rest of Europe.
5. Ireland
GDP per capita: $72,630
The economy of the Republic of Ireland is a modern, relatively small, trade-dependent economy.
While exports remain the main driver of Ireland's economic growth, growth is also being driven by rising consumer spending and a recovery in both construction and business investment.
4. Brunei
GDP per capita: $76,740
Brunei is one of the richest and wealthiest countries in the world. For the wealth of the inhabitants and the Sultan, the country is called "Islamic Disneyland".
Thanks to its rich oil and gas reserves, Brunei ranks among the first in Asia in terms of living standards.
The basis of the state economy is the extraction and processing of oil (over 10 million tons per year) and gas (over 12 billion cubic meters), the export of which provides more than 90% of foreign exchange earnings (60% of GDP).
3. Singapore
GDP per capita: $90,530
Singapore is a highly developed country with a market economy and low taxation, in which transnational corporations play an important role.
Singapore is attractive to investors because of its low tax rates.
In total, there are 5 taxes in Singapore, of which one is income tax, one is payroll tax.
The total tax rate is 27.1%. Singapore is ranked among the East Asian tigers for the rapid jump of the economy to the level of developed countries. The country has developed electronics production, shipbuilding, and the financial services sector. One of the largest manufacturers of CD drives. Large-scale research is being carried out in the field of biotechnology.
2. Luxembourg
GDP per capita: $109,190
Luxembourg is one of the richest countries in Europe with the highest standard of living. Many EU organizations are based in Luxembourg City.
Thanks to favorable conditions and an offshore zone, about 1,000 investment funds and more than 200 banks are located in the capital - more than in any other city in the world.
GDP per capita: $124,930
Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world, according to the IMF. For the past few years, this country has been leading the world by a wide margin in terms of such an indicator as GDP per capita.
Qatar is the 3rd in the world in terms of natural gas reserves, the 6th exporter of natural gas in the world and a major exporter of oil and petroleum products (21st in the world). It is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
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