The world is getting richer. The global economy expanded by more than 3% to $80.68 trillion in 2017. The world’s wealth is not distributed equally. North America, home to less than than 5% of the global population, accounts for about one-fourth of global economic output. Meanwhile, in South Asia, where nearly 25% of the world’s population resides, the region’s economic activity accounts for less than 4% of global gross domestic product.
GDP may be the standard method for gauging the size of a particular country or region’s economy, but it does not account for all of the wealth generated by that nation. A more accurate indicator of a country’s economic output is its gross national income, or GNI. This measure captures all economic activity within a nation’s borders in addition to wealth created by nationally owned entities operating in other countries.
Using data from the World Bank, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the GNI per capita of about 180 nations to identify the 25 richest countries. We also included life expectancy at birth from the World Bank, as well as GDP from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The wealthiest 25 countries in the world have complex and diverse economies. They export goods and services that originate in a variety of industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and aerospace. Another common characteristic among the richest countries is the relative lack of corruption. According to corruption watchdog Transparency International, the least corrupt countries feature a free press, open access to public information, and judicial systems free from undue influence. Another common characteristic of the wealthiest nations is all of the 25 richest countries have life expectancies at birth above the world average of 72.0 years.
Source: Thinkstock
25. Bahrain
> GNI per capita: $42,930
> 2017 GDP: $70.94 billion (97th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2016): 1.45 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 76.9 years
Source: Thinkstock
24. France
> GNI per capita: $43,790
> 2017 GDP: $2,876.06 billion (9th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 64.80 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.3 years
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Source: Thinkstock
23. Japan
> GNI per capita: $44,850
> 2017 GDP: $5,487.16 billion (4th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 126.75 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 84.0 years
Source: Thinkstock
22. Finland
> GNI per capita: $45,400
> 2017 GDP: $247.27 billion (60th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 5.50 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 81.8 years
Source: Thinkstock
21. Canada
> GNI per capita: $46,070
> 2017 GDP: $1,714.45 billion (17th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 36.66 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.3 years
Source: africanpix / Getty Images
20. Australia
> GNI per capita: $47,160
> 2017 GDP: $1,192.07 billion (20th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 24.77 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.5 years
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Source: RudyBalasko / Getty Images
19. Belgium
> GNI per capita: $48,240
> 2017 GDP: $544.04 billion (37th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 11.35 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 81.0 years
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Source: scanrail / Getty Images
18. Sweden
> GNI per capita: $50,980
> 2017 GDP: $505.48 billion (40th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 10.12 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.2 years
Source: Softeis / Wikimedia Commons
17. Germany
> GNI per capita: $51,680
> 2017 GDP: $4,187.58 billion (5th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 82.66 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 80.6 years
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Source: Thinkstock
16. Netherlands
> GNI per capita: $52,200
> 2017 GDP: $899.53 billion (27th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 17.14 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 81.5 years
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
15. Denmark
> GNI per capita: $52,390
> 2017 GDP: $296.35 billion (57th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 5.75 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 80.7 years
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Source: Mustang_79 / Getty Images
14. Austria
> GNI per capita: $52,500
> 2017 GDP: $461.58 billion (42nd out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 8.82 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 80.9 years
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Source: Thinkstock
13. Iceland
> GNI per capita: $53,280
> 2017 GDP: $18.14 billion (145th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 0.35 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.5 years
Source: swisshippo / Getty Images
12. Saudi Arabia
> GNI per capita: $54,770
> 2017 GDP: $1,773.55 billion (15th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 32.55 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 74.6 years
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Source: frankpeters / iStock
11. United States
> GNI per capita: $60,200
> 2017 GDP: $19,390.60 billion (2nd out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 325.89 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 78.7 years
Source: Thinkstock
10. Ireland
> GNI per capita: $61,910
> 2017 GDP: $364.14 billion (48th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 4.83 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 81.6 years
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Source: Thinkstock
9. Norway
> GNI per capita: $63,980
> 2017 GDP: $324.40 billion (53rd out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 5.29 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.5 years
Source: MJ_Prototype / Getty Images
8. Hong Kong SAR
> GNI per capita: $64,100
> 2017 GDP: $454.89 billion (43rd out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 7.41 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 84.2 years
Source: ake1150sb / Getty Images
7. Switzerland
> GNI per capita: $65,610
> 2017 GDP: $547.85 billion (36th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 8.42 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.9 years
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Source: Thinkstock
6. Luxembourg
> GNI per capita: $72,690
> 2017 GDP: $62.19 billion (102nd out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 0.59 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.3 years
Source: EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER / Getty Images
5. United Arab Emirates
> GNI per capita: $74,410
> 2017 GDP: $694.47 billion (31st out of 185 countries)
> Population (2005): 10.14 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 77.3 years
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Source: Anson Fernandez Dionisio / Getty Images
4. Kuwait
> GNI per capita: $83,310
> 2017 GDP: $297.59 billion (55th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2016): 4.41 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 74.7 years
Source: IgorP1976 / Getty Images
3. Brunei Darussalam
> GNI per capita: $83,760
> 2017 GDP: $33.80 billion (123rd out of 185 countries)
> Population (2016): 430,000
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 77.2 years
Source: Nikada / Getty Images
2. Singapore
> GNI per capita: $90,570
> 2017 GDP: $527.02 billion (38th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 5.61 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.8 years
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Source: Thinkstock
1. Qatar
> GNI per capita: $128,060
> 2017 GDP: $338.82 billion (49th out of 185 countries)
> Population (2017): 2.74 million
> Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 78.2 years
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