Which Country Has the Highest Poverty Rate
According to the World Bank's most recent publicly available estimates, South Sudan consistently ranks among the countries with the highest poverty rates, with a large share of the population living on less than 2.15 dollars a day in extreme poverty. The latest household survey data and national accounts updates show that conflict, climate shocks, and weak institutions keep poverty levels extremely high in this country, even as some other low income economies improve slowly. For current global rankings and methodology, see the World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (https://pip.worldbank.org).
Other countries with very high poverty headcounts include the Central African Republic, Madagascar, and parts of the Sahel region, where large populations depend on subsistence agriculture and face frequent food crises. The World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme use similar multidimensional and monetary poverty lines to compare countries, and their latest reports highlight that Sub Saharan Africa accounts for the largest share of the world's extreme poor. These rankings are based on household surveys, national census data, and price adjustments, and are regularly updated as new data become available (https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty).
Key Drivers and Economic Indicators
High poverty in the country with the most poverty is driven by prolonged armed conflict, displacement, weak governance, and limited access to basic services such as health care, electricity, and education. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank note that countries with fragile states and low GDP per capita tend to have the highest poverty rates, and South Sudan's GDP per capita remains among the lowest in the world. Economic indicators such as inflation, currency depreciation, and reliance on oil revenues further shape household welfare and poverty trends (https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/poverty).
Climate variability and environmental shocks also deepen poverty by reducing crop yields and increasing food prices, especially in countries where agriculture employs most of the population. The Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme report that conflict and climate related disasters together push millions into extreme poverty each year, and humanitarian plans regularly highlight the need for sustained funding in the most affected countries. These organizations use household budget surveys, food security assessments, and macroeconomic data to track how poverty evolves over time (https://www.fao.org).
Global Comparisons and Recent Trends
Global extreme poverty has fallen over recent decades, but progress has slowed, and the latest World Bank estimates show that the number of people living in extreme poverty remains concentrated in a small number of countries. South Sudan, alongside other fragile and conflict affected states, continues to record some of the highest poverty rates, even as countries like India, China, and Indonesia have lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty through growth and social programs. The World Bank's regional and country level reports provide the most recent figures and projections for poverty headcounts and rates (https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/overview).
International organizations and research groups also publish updated rankings using different poverty lines, such as the 3.65 dollars and 6.85 dollars per day thresholds, which capture moderate and higher poverty levels in lower middle income countries. These reports show that while the country with the most extreme poverty often remains the same in the latest data, the composition of global poverty is shifting toward Sub Saharan Africa and fragile states. For the latest updates and data tools, visit the World Bank's official poverty portal (https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty).