One of the steps on the path to wealth is to develop the right attitude towards money. Money is not a goal, but just a means. And using this tool, you can become more successful and prosperous.
Today's article includes ten countries that are the richest. The rating was compiled by Forbes magazine.
Ranking of the richest countries in the world
10. Netherlands.
Annual per capita income: $42,918. The main “trump card” of the Netherlands is its very favorable geographical location. Almost all trade routes to Europe lead through the Netherlands. The country also has excellent infrastructure and a multilingual workforce.
Interesting fact about the Netherlands: The number of bicycles in this country exceeds the number of its inhabitants.
9. Switzerland.
Annual per capita income: $43,000. When talking about Switzerland, the famous Swiss banks immediately come to mind. Indeed, the banking sector is very developed here. Switzerland is a peaceful country that has not participated in any war for several centuries. Swiss products are highly valued throughout the world, namely cheese, chocolate and watches.
Interesting fact about Switzerland: For Swiss schoolchildren, Wednesday is an official day off, along with traditional days off.
8. Hong Kong.
Annual per capita income: $44,996. Hong Kong is autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, and in fact it is independent in resolving many issues. Hong Kong is a tasty morsel for investors, because there are favorable trading conditions and low taxes for business.
Interesting fact about Hong Kong: Hong Kong's evening laser show is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest and most impressive.
7. USA.
Annual per capita income: $46,874. This country has attracted many adventurers and adventurers at different stages of its development. To some extent, this also influenced its formation and prosperity. The US economy is the largest in the world, and has been at the top of the ranking of all world economies for about 100 years.
Interesting fact about the USA: Starting conversations about politics with people you don’t know well is considered bad manners in the United States.
6. United Arab Emirates.
Annual per capita income: $47,694. The main value of the Emirates is, of course, oil. Before oil was discovered, the UAE was little more than a handful of villages, but is now a rich tourist destination.
Interesting fact about the UAE: hitchhiking in the Emirates is an administrative violation and a fine is charged for it.
5. Brunei.
Annual per capita income: $49,791. This small but very rich state has created almost ideal conditions for a comfortable life. Availability of rich natural resources and the sale of oil is what the country’s economy rests on.
Interesting fact about Brunei: The name of this country translated means “blessed abode of peace.”
4. Norway.
Annual per capita income: $51,959. Norway is considered the country with the highest standard of living in the world. This country's wealth is based on its rich reserves of energy resources and their wise use.
Interesting fact about Norway: compliance with the laws is such an unquestioning matter for residents of Norway that stores don’t even bother installing security systems. Only the largest shopping complexes have video surveillance, but even there thefts are extremely rare.
3. Singapore.
Annual per capita income: $56,498. Singapore achieved its economic development throughout the second half of the 20th century. Singapore is now becoming more and more developed both socially and financially.
Interesting fact about Singapore: the capital of Singapore is the cleanest city on the planet. Once here, you won't want to litter - spitting on the street or throwing a piece of paper past the trash can is punishable by a fine of $500.
2. Luxembourg.
Annual per capita income: $85,432. The motto of this small, prosperous country is “We remain who we are.” Even such a small area has enormous weight in the modern economic world, because Luxembourg is the second most affluent country in the world.
Interesting fact about Luxembourg: Luxembourg residents have 100% literacy.
1. Qatar.
Annual per capita income: $88,222. And finally, the leader of the rating is the state of Qatar. Qatar owes its wealth to oil, which is produced in large quantities in this country.
Interesting fact about Qatar: A typical problem for Qatari men is being overweight.
American edition Global Finance Magazine compiled a ranking of the richest countries in the world, which included 185 states. The list was compiled based on data from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The publication took into account purchasing power parity per capita, which takes into account the relative cost of living and inflation rates in countries.
The richest countries in the post-Soviet space were Lithuania (41st place) and Estonia (42nd place). The per capita GDP there is $28,245 and $27,729, respectively. Kazakhstan came next - 50th place, GDP per capita - $25,367.
Russia and Latvia were ranked in the magazine's ranking 51st and 52nd places (GDP per capita in these countries is $25,350 and $25,195). Azerbaijan and Belarus - 64th and 65th places. Turkmenistan is in 77th place. In addition, the list includes Ukraine (109th place), Armenia (116), Uzbekistan (127), Moldova (132), Kyrgyzstan (142), Tajikistan (153).
Global Finance Magazine named Qatar the richest country in the world (GDP per capita - $146,000). Luxembourg is in second place (94,167), Singapore is in third (84,821).
Israel between Spain and Malta on 33rd place, Emirates on 7th. Not so long ago they were close in the third ten. Islamic oil monarchies have been steadily moving up in the ranking of countries in terms of per capita income in recent years.
IN TOP 25 richest states world, according to the publication, also included Brunei, Kuwait, Norway, UAE, Hong Kong, USA, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Netherlands, Ireland, Australia, Austria, Sweden, Germany, Taiwan, Canada, Denmark, Oman, Iceland, Belgium and France.
20. Canada
GDP per capita: $45 981Population: 35,540,419
: 81.4 years
Canada is a unique advanced economy because a large part of its economy is dependent on natural resources.
Export commodities include crude oil and lumber.
Canadians have a very high standard of living, almost 87.1% of the country's residents have access to the Internet. In addition, the unemployment rate in the country is only 6.8%.
Compared to last year, Canada lost one place in the ranking of the richest countries in the world: last year it was in 19th place, but this year it dropped to 20th.
This may also be due to the fall in oil prices, as many energy companies that previously invested in oil production in Canada's oil sands have begun to withdraw their investments from the sector as oil sands production has proven unprofitable at current oil prices.
19. Taiwan
GDP per capita: $45 996Real GDP growth averages approximately 4% per year and has been stable over the past 30 years.
Exports grew at an even faster pace and provided the right conditions for industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are low, and the trade balance has been positive for a number of years.
Taiwan's labor market is one of the most prosperous in the region. The high-probability forecast for increased employment in the services sector is based on trends in the tourism industry, which is thriving with wealthy travelers from mainland China.
Poverty in Taiwan has been almost completely eliminated, with less than 1% of the population considered poor orbelonging to the low-income segment of the population.
This means that more than 99% of the population enjoys the benefits of Taiwan's economic prosperity, which has greatly improved their quality of life.
While last year Taiwan was not among the world's 25 richest countries, this year its rapid economic growth has ensured that it ranks 19th among the world's richest countries.
18. Germany
GDP per capita: $46 165Population: 80,889,505
Life expectancy: 81.0 years
Germany and its 81 million inhabitants are among the richest in the world. Germany has the fourth largest economy in the world and is also Europe's most important exporter. Its automobile giants Volkswagen and Daimler are leading car exporters.
The country's unemployment rate is comparatively low at 4.7%, which is much lower than the unemployment rate of most European countries.
In addition, the country has a relatively high level of healthcare and a life expectancy of 81 years.
However, over the year, Germany dropped three positions in the ranking: last year it was in 15th place, and in 2016 it dropped to 18th.
This may be due to the difficult situation in the country, which is associated with a record influx of migrants, the growth of protest sentiments in the country, as well as the general weakening of the EU economy and the depreciation of the euro.
17. Sweden
GDP per capita: $46 386Population: 9,689,555
Life expectancy: 81.7 years
Sweden is the second richest Nordic country after Norway. Like other countries in the region, Sweden has very high taxes and also exports more than it imports.
Moreover, Sweden ranks 12th in terms of balanced wealth distribution. Residents of Sweden have one of the highest standards of living. Almost all children - 99.3% - attend school, according to this indicator the country ranks 6th in the world.
16. Austria
GDP per capita: $46 906Population: 8,534,492
Life expectancy: 80.9 years
This country has a very diversified economy, being adjacent to the leading economies of Europe. The country exports a range of goods, including medicines, auto parts and cars.
Austria's largest trading partner is Germany, where 27% of the country's total exports are sent.
The Austrian government spends 38.3% of GDP on goods and services for the population, which is quite high among other countries in the world.
If we talk about the standard of living in the country, the life expectancy of Austrians is 81 years, which is also higher than the average in the region.
Over the year, Austria rose in the ranking by two positions: from 18th place in 2015 to 16th place in 2016.
15. Australia
GDP per capita: $48 288Population: 23,490,736
Life expectancy: 82.2 years
The country exports iron ore, the main buyer is China.
Citizens of the country have access to high-level education and healthcare. Life expectancy is 82.2 years, according to this indicator Australia ranks 10th in the world.
Australia has moved up in the rankings compared to last year. If in 2015 it was in 21st place, then in 2016 it rose to 15th place, despite falling prices for many raw materials, including iron ore.
14. Ireland
GDP per capita: $48 786Population: 4,612,719
Life expectancy: 81.0 years
Like many rich countries in the world, Ireland has a positive trade balance: a trade surplus of 25%. Ireland is the world's leading exporter of chemicals and pharmaceutical products.
In addition, the standard of living in Ireland is slightly higher than in other countries in Europe and Central Asia. At the same time, life expectancy in Ireland is 81 years, which is 4.2 years more than the regional average.
Ireland is another country that has risen in the ranking of the richest countries in the world compared to last year: in 2015 it was in 23rd place, but this year it has risen to 14th place.
13. Netherlands
GDP per capita: $48 797Population: 16,854,183
Life expectancy: 81.1 years
The Dutch economy is based on trade, with exports accounting for 83.1% of GDP - one of the largest high performance in the world. The country's main trading partners are Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Despite its relatively small size and the fact that only 2.5% of the population is employed in agriculture, the Netherlands is the world's second largest supplier of agricultural products.
The Netherlands spends 42.2% of GDP on its citizens. That is why the country's citizens have a very high standard of living. Life expectancy, access to the Internet, level of education and health care - according to these indicators, the country ranks very high places in the region.
Compared to last year, the country rose one position in the ranking: in 2015, the Netherlands was in 14th place, in 2016 it was already 13th.
12. Bahrain
GDP per capita: $52 830Oil production and refining used to account for 60% of GDP, now it is 30%: the deposits of Bahraini “black gold” are being depleted.
Despite this, in 2015 the country produced 18.462 million barrels of oil, which is 3.7% higher than in 2014. The country also produces and processes natural gas, the reserves of which are significant. Offshore banking business has been developed.
The average life expectancy of the population is 73.7 years.
Last year, Bahrain was not included in the top 25 richest countries in the world, but this year the country broke into the top 20, immediately taking 15th place.
11. Saudi Arabia
GDP per capita: $56 253Population: 30,886,545
Life expectancy: 75.7 years
Saudi Arabia's economy is dependent on oil exports, as the country is the world's leading oil exporter. The largest reserves of raw materials are located here.
Oil accounts for 89.8% of the country's exports. Saudi Arabia is a member of OPEC; in addition, it is considered the unofficial leader of the organization, which sets the tone for all OPEC policies.
The standard of living in Saudi Arabia is higher than in most countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
Life expectancy in this country is 75 years, and the literacy rate is 94.4%. In addition, 64% of the population has access to the Internet. However, these figures are still lower than in most European countries.
Over the past year, oil prices have dropped sharply, which could not but affect the economies of oil-producing countries.
Saudi Arabia is also going through difficult times due to the current situation on the oil market, but this has not affected its position in the ranking.
Moreover, if in 2015 Saudi Arabia was in 13th place, then in 206 it rose to 11th place among the richest countries in the world.
10. Switzerland
GDP per capita: $56 815Population: 8,190,229
Life expectancy: 82.7 years
Switzerland is the world's leading gold exporter, accounting for the bulk of the country's total exports.
Despite the country's relatively small size, its economy is one of the largest in the world. In terms of population, Switzerland ranks 96th in the world.
Switzerland has a high standard of living and high life expectancy, which is associated with good healthcare. In addition, the unemployment rate here is only 3.4%.
Over the past year, Switzerland has dropped one place in the ranking of the richest countries in the world: in 2015 it was in 9th place, and in 2016 it was in 10th place.
9. USA
GDP per capita: $57 045Population: 318,857,056
Life expectancy: 78.8 years
Even though the US is the world's second largest exporter after China, the country imports more than it exports.
Americans are one of the richest peoples in the world, and the country also has a relatively high standard of living. They consume more than any other country in the world, with the US accounting for a quarter of all goods and services purchased in the world.
On average, Americans live about 79 years, which is 8 years longer than the world average, but it is still lower than most European countries.
8. Hong Kong
GDP per capita: $57 676Population: 7,241,700
Life expectancy: 83.8 years
Hong Kong is the most trade-dependent country in the world. The administrative region exports about as much as it imports, so it has an almost perfect trade balance.
Most of the export earnings come from gold, purchased mainly from Switzerland. Most of the gold is then sold to China.
It also has low taxes and high levels of access to East Asian markets, making the area attractive to business and foreign investment.
The life expectancy of Hong Kong residents is 83.8 years. This is the highest life expectancy in the world.
Compared to last year, Hong Kong has also risen in the ranking of the richest countries in the world: in 2015 it was in 11th place, in 2016 it ranks 8th.
7. United Arab Emirates
GDP per capita: $67 201Population: 9,086,139
Life expectancy: 77.1 years
Like most of the countries in the top 10, the UAE has rich oil reserves. The country ranks 6th in the world in terms of oil reserves.
Oil exports mainly go to Japan, Thailand, South Korea, India and Singapore. Oil exports account for a large share of GDP.
The UAE government spends just 3.9% of GDP on public goods and services. This is the lowest figure among the countries in this rating.
However, most of the UAE's population enjoys a higher standard of living than most other countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
The country's literacy rate is 90.0%, which is higher than the regional average. In addition, on average, residents of this country live 77 years, which is higher than the regional average of 72.3 years.
The UAE is also a member of OPEC. Compared to last year, the country’s position in the ranking of the richest countries in the world has not changed - a confident 7th place, despite the fall in oil prices, which is the country’s main export product.
6. Norway
GDP per capita: $67 619Population: 5,136,475
Life expectancy: 81.5 years
Norway is the richest among the Scandinavian countries.
The country produces oil in the North Sea and exports oil and gas. In addition, Norway exports fish.
Norway has very high taxes, but they are evenly distributed among the population, which leads to the fact that this country has a very high standard of living.
Almost 96% of the population has access to the Internet: according to this indicator, the country ranks 3rd in the world.
Despite falling prices for oil, one of the country's most important exports, Norway has improved its ranking of the richest countries.
If in 2015 it took 8th place, then this year it rose to 6th place.
5. Kuwait
GDP per capita: $71 600Population: 3,753,121
Life expectancy: 74.5 years
Like most of the countries in the top 10, Kuwait is rich in oil. The country ranks 5th in the world in terms of proven oil reserves. Additionally, Kuwait imports pharmaceuticals, food, automobiles and many other products.
The unemployment rate here is very low - only 2.1%. However, the level of healthcare here lags significantly behind other countries. The average Kuwaiti life expectancy is 74 years.
Kuwait, like most other Middle Eastern countries included in the rating, is a member of OPEC.
The fall in oil prices over the past year has also had a negative impact on the country's economy. Kuwait dropped two positions in the ranking: in 2015 it was in 3rd place, and in 2016 it dropped to 5th.
4. Brunei Darussalam
GDP per capita: $80 335Population: 417,394
Life expectancy: 78.6 years
Brunei Darussalam is a small country located on the island of Borneo and borders Indonesia and Malaysia.
Brunei is a country rich in oil. It exports gasoline to Japan and South Korea, which account for almost all of Brunei's exports. Exports are almost 2.3 times higher than imports. Thus, the country has one of the highest trade balances in the world.
Over the past 20 years, Brunei has tried to diversify its economy, and today the country is attracting a significant amount of foreign investment.
Brunei also has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world at just 2.7%.
Last year the country ranked 5th in the ranking of the richest countries in the world, and this year it moved up one position to become the fourth richest country.
3. Singapore
GDP per capita: $84 821Population: 5,469,700
Life expectancy: 82.3 years
This Asian city-state is heavily dependent on trade, and its residents are among the richest in the world.
Singapore has no natural resource reserves, but the city-state is a major financial and trading center.
The Port of Singapore is the second busiest port in terms of cargo volume.
There is a high standard of living here and the most a large number of millionaires per capita.
The unemployment rate is only 2%, and life expectancy is 82 years.
Compared to last year, Singapore moved up one place in the ranking: in 2015 it was in 4th place, and in 2016 it was already in third place.
2. Luxembourg
GDP per capita: $94 167Population: 556,074
Life expectancy: 81.8 years
Luxembourg is one of the three richest countries in the world. It borders Belgium, France and Germany. The country's economy depends on trade with these countries.
The country's exports reach $122.7 billion and imports $99.9 billion. Wealth typically goes hand in hand with a high standard of living. Luxembourg is no exception.
Life expectancy here is above 81 years, which is higher than the regional average. And besides, according to this indicator, Luxembourg occupies one of the leading places in the world.
Luxembourg has significantly improved its position over the past year: in 2015, it was only 10th in the ranking of the richest countries in the world, and this year it entered the top 3.
1. Qatar
GDP per capita: $146 011Population: 2,172,065
Life expectancy: 78.6 years
Qatar is the richest country in the world. Qatar ranks 9th in the world in terms of proven oil reserves.
It is precisely because Qatar's economy is dependent on oil exports that makes it particularly vulnerable to market fluctuations, and especially to fluctuations in oil prices.
Qatari authorities have tried to diversify the country's economy, but the country remains dependent on oil exports.
At the same time, the country has a very high standard of living - much higher than in most countries in the Middle East and North Africa. It has high life expectancy, high internet access and high literacy rates.
For the second year in a row, Qatar has become the leader in the ranking of the richest countries in the world, despite the fall in oil prices, which could not but affect the economic situation in the country.
What is required to develop the state’s economy and provide the population with the highest standard of living? Let's find out what the richest countries in the world did for this and what is the secret of their prosperity!
TOP 10 richest countries in the worldby income per capita
There are 246 states in the world. The topic of this article includes ten of them - with the highest standard of living. Interesting feature This category of countries is the correct management of available natural resources or the use of an advantageous geographical location for the benefit of the economy.
One way or another, with an economically sound approach, even a lifeless desert can be turned into a fragrant oasis. To do this, it is desirable that oil fountains come out of the sand. However, the mere 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 homeland, due to their predominantly economic, as well as geographical location, 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 the additional material at the link:
The richest countriesby income level: 1st place – Qatar
According to most rating agencies in recent years, the top 10 richest countries in the world are headed by the Arab state of Qatar with an impressive lead over their competitors. It is not only the richest, but also the smallest country in the Arabian Peninsula, where it is located. The territory of Qatar occupies only a peninsula on southwest coast Persian Gulf. By land, Qatar borders Saudi Arabia, and by sea its closest neighbors are the UAE and Bahrain.
The Qatar Peninsula is largely 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 slightly more than two million, 90% of which live in the capital Doha and its environs.
Given extremely unfavorable living conditions, the current level of prosperity for the state was ensured by rich oil and gas fields located in the northern part of the peninsula. Qatar has the third largest reserves of natural gas in the world! In terms of oil reserves – 21st! Today, half of the GDP and 70% of the state budget income are provided precisely 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 developed chemical and metallurgical industries. A large steel smelting plant is busy melting imported raw materials, and chemical plants produce fertilizers and petroleum by-products. Qatar's agriculture is poorly developed and can satisfy only a tenth of the population's food needs, so up to 90% of the share of food products is imported. Also, a fair share of imports comes from various equipment and vehicles.
The government is concerned about attracting foreign investment in non-resource sectors and areas of the economy, trying 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 mining to commodity production.
Like other richest countries in the world, Qatar boasts a developed financial sector, numbering one and a half dozen large 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 across all inhabited continents of the planet. Qatar Airlines is among the seven best in the world in terms of quality and level of service.
The welfare of the peninsular Islamic state is based on the extraction, processing and supply of valuable natural raw materials. Converted per capita to its relatively small population, Qatar's GDP is $145,000 per year per person! The rest of the richest countries only reach half of this figure!
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 source of income, forming a tenth of GDP, is the mining of iron ore and the production of cast iron and iron for export. Raw materials are extracted from a large deposit, part of which is located on the territory of the southern borders of the state. The service sector also contributes to the development of the economy, especially in the financial field. Also in Luxembourg there are several golf clubs, hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars, etc. best level service.
Foreign companies open their production factories here, since in addition to the lack of taxation, the advantage is that local workers speak several languages. Official languages are Luxembourgish, French and German. It produces audio-video and telecommunications equipment, chemical products, glass and fabrics. The country fully imports energy resources for industrial enterprises and electricity, as well as transport and equipment.
The main influx of money into the country is formed through the provision of services to international financial institutions. This is over 60% of GDP. However, this 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 for citizens is ensured thanks to the average annual per capita income, which is about $128,000 per year!
The richest countries in Asia– Singapore
The first place in the TOP of the richest countries in Asia and third place in the world is held by Singapore, which occupies an area of only 719 square kilometers and is located on 63 islands. Population: 5 million people, of which more than 70% are Chinese. Due to the lack of space, artificial reclamation of land has been carried out throughout the entire period since the founding of the state in 1965. Singapore was previously part of Malaysia.
Secession from Malaysia left Singapore with virtually no natural resources, not even its drinking water. However, the government’s competent economic policy has transformed a poor country into a prosperous one in just 20-30 years. The basis for success was the decision to create a financial and economic center for all of Southeast Asia on the basis of Singapore. This was achieved by attracting foreign investment and creating a favorable financial and economic climate.
Currently, Singapore produces high-tech electronics from the world's largest manufacturers, shipbuilding, the financial services segment, pharmaceuticals, and developments in the field of biotechnology are also underway. It has its own airline, Singapoure Airlines, serving over 40 million passengers a year.
A powerful economic and technological leap raised the average annual income of the population several dozen times before the onset of the 21st century and remained in history as the “Singaporean economic miracle" The gross national product according to 2015 data was $85,000 per year per person. Singapore is an excellent example of an efficient economic organization based on the use of foreign investment, without having its own natural resources at all.
Switzerland – 4th place in the TOP 10 richest countries
Switzerland is a country in Western Europe, lost among the 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 the melting of glaciers, of which there are currently about 140 with a total area of 2000 km2, and large rivers flowing through its territory. Reserves fresh water Here they make up 6% of all European ones.
Manifold ski resorts and other interesting attractions attract an endless stream of tourists. The excellent level of service has firmly established Switzerland as one of the... best resorts world, and tourism, together with the entire service sector, accounts for the lion’s share of budget revenues – 70%.
Switzerland is also famous for its reliable banks, where protecting the confidentiality of customer data is written almost into the constitution. This serious approach to banking secrecy attracts many investors from all over the world who want to save their money, which they also acquired through less than honest means. Information can be released only upon an official request from government authorities and if the client is suspected of committing illegal actions or concealing taxes.
There are offices of more than 4,000 financial and credit institutions, including foreign ones, 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. Essentially, 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 from hydroelectric power plants, 40% of energy comes from nuclear power plants, and the remaining 10% is generated from imported energy resources. Hydroelectric power stations are located in the Alps, where several dozen reservoirs have been created for these purposes. Nuclear power plants are under close surveillance by environmentalists due to their potential danger, but are still operating. But there are no plans to build new nuclear power plants.
The population of Switzerland is 8 million people. A developed economy, a stable exchange rate of the national currency and a competent foreign policy make it possible to maintain 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 northern country in Europe
One of the northern European countries, Norway, is included in the list of the richest countries. 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 Sweden, Finland and Russia. The number of inhabitants of Norway is 5,245,000 people. The high standard of living and prosperity of Norwegians is confirmed by the size of the GDP: $75,000 per person per year.
Norway is also involved in oil and gas production, which contributes about a third of state budget revenues. The country is Europe's leading supplier of hydrocarbons and 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 safe resource extraction.
Thanks to the presence of forests, which occupy 30% of the area, and a developed wood processing industry, Norway occupies a leading place in the world in the production and export of pulp. Also on the territory of the state there are rich 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 industry 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 enterprises for processing.
Despite the availability of natural energy resources - oil and gas, 95% of electricity in Norway is generated by hydroelectric power plants. The rest is provided by wind power plants. The country provides itself with electricity, which allows almost full export of produced hydrocarbons.
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A widely developed tourist destination. The entire coast of Norway is literally indented by numerous fjords along which cruise ships and yachts ply. Picturesque cliffs and clear seas, combined with a favorable environmental situation and the safety of the country, attract millions of tourists here every year.
Kuwait - another oil tycoon
Kuwait is located on the northeastern coast of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Together with its islands in the bay, the state occupies 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-last 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 standard of living of the population to one of the highest in the world.
In the early 1990s, Kuwaitis experienced an Iraqi occupation that almost completely destroyed and looted 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 account for approximately 9% of the world's total. Kuwait's main trading partners for 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
United United Arab Emirates– located on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The area is 83,600 square kilometers, about 8,000,000 people live here, more than 60% of whom are migrant 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 figure was achieved thanks to the policy of economic diversification adopted in the 1980s. Before the measures were taken, oil provided more than 75% of revenue to the state treasury. On a per capita basis, the current GDP level is $66,000 per year per person.
The United Arab Emirates, thanks to oil exports, has achieved significant wealth in a relatively short time - since 1971, the moment of its separation from Oman. The rapid growth of the economy was facilitated by high oil prices at that time. In parallel, the banking services and tourism sectors developed, which now generate the majority of income.
Profitable geographical position made it possible to turn the UAE into a large international trade and economic center connecting the West and the East. Large sea ports The emirates of Dubai and Fujairah handle millions of containers annually. Six international airports serve more than 60 million passengers per year.
Most of the UAE's territory is occupied by desert, and the arid climate is not at all conducive to the development of agriculture. However, thanks to investments in this industry, it was possible to make it prosperous even in such conditions. Some of the products are even exported to Europe, for example, strawberries. Dubai is also home to 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, the 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 state 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 borders in desert conditions. However, it is reliably known that the territory occupied is the 13th largest in the world in terms of area. Population: 31.5 million people.
Saudi Arabia is in first place in terms of production of “black gold”. Only Russia and the USA can compete with it! The share of 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 most of its economy is built on the processing and export of hydrocarbons. Saudi Arabia plays a key role in pricing. The dynamics of black gold prices literally depends on it, and hence the colossal influence of the Arab oil power on the other richest oil countries and the world economy as a whole. The share of income from oil exports is 75% of GDP. In per capita terms for the year, the figure is $51,000.
In addition to oil income, 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 human rights. In the kingdom, cutting off hands for theft and the death penalty for actions that in other states are not classified as illegal at all are still in use! This is a tribute to compliance with Sharia law, on the principles of which criminal law is based. For this reason, the oil-rich country is constantly criticized by international human rights organizations.
Brunei - drowning 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 occupies an area of only 6,000 square kilometers and shares a land border only with Malaysia. The population of Brunei does not exceed 500,000 people. Almost half of the working population are migrants from the regions of South and Southeast Asia.
Brunei is included in the list of the richest countries thanks to its gross national income, which, calculated per capita, 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 the favorable equatorial climate, which allows harvesting several times a year and the abundance of humid tropical forests occupying almost 80% of the territory, Agriculture rather poorly developed. More than 70% of food, as well as other everyday goods, is imported from Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and China.
Since 1975, the national company has been carrying out international transportation under the flag of the state. Royal airline Brunei Airlines, wholly owned by the government and serving about twenty destinations. The country is actively making attempts to diversify the economy by stimulating development tourist destination. The country is extremely colorful, rich in attractions 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 trading center in Asia
Hong Kong is a separate administrative division of China People's Republic and leads as the world's largest financial and trading center. The country is located on South coast China, occupies a peninsula and 260 nearby islands in the South China Sea.
The territory area is 1100 square kilometers. It is noteworthy that urbanization has affected only 30 percent of the total area of the state. Most of it is covered with forests untouched by civilization and has the status national parks, reserves and environmental protection zones. An important role in terms of preserving the virgin territory was played by the hilly terrain with steep mountains, which prevent its development.
The population of Hong Kong is 7,200,000 people. Density per square kilometer – 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 remaining richest countries have a population density of no more than 2,000 people per square kilometer of area. Due to such a high population, the ecology in cities, especially in the capital, leaves much to be desired. This is despite the abundance of green spaces there, the presence large rivers and government concern for the environment.
The progress of economic development is due to government policies: low taxation, free port status and complete non-interference of government bodies in the regulation of market relations. Import excise taxes are imposed on only a small list of goods: alcohol, tobacco, methyl alcohol and mineral oils. All other trade turnover occurs absolutely without charging any duties or fees.
Hong Kong is the world's third largest financial and trading center. Income from services in the financial and banking sectors forms up to 90% of government revenues. Industry and agriculture are very poorly developed, and Hong Kong imports the bulk of its necessary goods.
In terms of the speed of economic development, Hong Kong is ahead of the rest of the richest countries and is second only to Singapore. In terms of GDP per capita, Hong Kong is ahead not only of the cities of mainland China, but also of many other rich countries - $38,000 per year. Despite this, 20% of Hong Kong residents live below the poverty line and in squalor. Social benefits and benefits provided by the government have not fundamentally improved 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 industrialized and richest countries of the Arabian Peninsula are firmly on the oil and gas needle. As long as natural resources have not been depleted and internal policies have 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 been thinking about expanding areas of income generation and diversifying the economy.
The most backward in this regard is Brunei, where oil export revenues are largely frozen while creating a luxurious environment within the country itself. The UAE, for example, has long mastered the tourism niche and created favorable conditions for recreation, essentially in desert conditions.
Asia's richest countries have fared the most in terms of greenfield development. By creating an economy literally from scratch, without resources, but wisely using the geographical location and attracting foreign capital in every way.
Europe's richest countries for the most part do not have enough natural resources to provide a high standard of living for their citizens. However, they managed to find their niche and firmly entrench themselves in the global economic system. As for the state richest in resources - Russia - it is in only 50th place in the list of the richest countries.
I eat cabbage, and the boss eats meat. On average we eat cabbage rolls.
Folk wisdom
The world continues to increase its income. According to forecasts of international organizations, in 2018 the economy will grow by 3.1% (World Bank) or 3.8% (OECD), or even 3.9% (IMF). Does this mean that all countries, their inhabitants and each of us personally are becoming richer? Definitely no: the well-being of representatives of the rich strata increases, but the majority of the poor remain poor. We will try to reveal various aspects of the growth of social inequality and per capita income in the world in 2018.
The increase in billionaire wealth exceeds the growth rate of the global economy
Forbes is a fascinating magazine that we turn to when we want to know the names of the world's richest people and the size of their wealth. His 2018 list features a record number 2208 billionaires from 72 countries and territories. This elite the group owns $9.1 trillion, up 18% from last year, Forbes notes.
So, the increase in the welfare of the richest people on the planet by 2018 was compared to 2017 18% . And according to the IMF forecast, the growth of the world economy in 2018 is 3,9% . Thus, the rate at which billionaires are getting rich exceeds the rate of economic growth in the world, which means that the rest of the economy is growing more slowly than the “hospital average.” .
10 richest and poorest countries in the world
Let's analyze the stratification of the world's countries into rich and poor. We will not consider the total wealth that countries have (because there are very large but very poor countries whose gross domestic product (GDP) is greater than that of very small but rich countries), but the relationship between the wealth of each country and its population, that is GDP per capita.
Based on IMF statistics, we will compile Table 1, from which you can see how the composition and income of the richest and poorest countries in the world have changed over the past 10 years.
Table 1 - The richest and poorest countries in the world
in terms of GDP per capita
| The mostrich countries* | The mostpoor countries* | GDP per capita, thousand US dollars | |||||
| 2007 | 2017 | 2018** | 2007 | 2017 | 2018** | ||
| Luxembourg | 107 | 106 | 120 | South Sudan | – | 0,228 | 0,246 |
| Switzerland* | – | 81 | 87 | Burundi | 0,170 | 0,312 | 0,340 |
| Iceland* | – | – | 85 | Ethiopia | 0,249 | – | – |
| Macau SAR | – | 77 | 84 | Congo | 0,254 | – | – |
| Norway | 85 | 75 | 83 | Eritrea | 0,279 | – | – |
| Ireland* | – | 71 | 81 | Malawi | 0,307 | 0,324 | 0,342 |
| Iceland | – | 70 | – | Niger | 0,313 | – | – |
| Qatar | 69 | 61 | 66 | Afghanistan | 0,325 | – | – |
| Switzerland | 64 | – | – | Sierra Leone | 0,369 | – | – |
| Ireland | 61 | – | – | Madagascar | 0,379 | – | – |
| Singapore | – | 58 | – | Central African Republic | – | 0,386 | 0,426 |
| USA | – | 59 | – | Nepal | 0,394 | – | – |
| Denmark | 59 | 56 | 64 | Yemen* | – | – | 0,449 |
| Sweden | 53 | – | – | Mozambique | – | 0,429 | 0,472 |
| Netherlands | 51 | – | – | Niger* | – | 0,440 | – |
| Great Britain | 50 | – | – | Madagascar* | – | 0,448 | 0,479 |
| USA* | – | – | 62 | Congo* | – | 0,478 | 0,478 |
| Singapore* | – | – | 62 | Gambia | – | 0,480 | 0,500 |
| Sierra Leone* | – | 0,491 | 0,505 | ||||
| Yemen | – | 0,551 | – | ||||
** – for 2018 the forecast is presented based on actual data for 5 months
If we assume that each of the countries presented in Table 1 is home to one average citizen, whose per capita GDP accounts for the corresponding volume, then we can estimate the average growth rates of population incomes for two groups of countries (the richest and the poorest), as well as the dynamics of these indicators (table 2).
Table 2 - Characteristics of groups of the richest and poorest countries in the world
Per capita income growth in absolute terms (thousands of US dollars) continues in 2018 for both rich and poor countries. But the ratio of average GDP per capita by group of countries (rich to poor), as well as the richest to the poorest country, increased in 2018. It says on the growing income gap between groups in rich and poor countries in 2018 .
What about our income inequality indexes?
Ukraine is modestly represented in the Forbes list in 2018 7 the country's richest billionaires with a total fortune $13.2 billion, about 13% of the country's annual GDP. Let’s add to this group of hryvnia millionaires, of whom, according to the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, by 2018 there were 4,063 people in the country with more than $1 billion in annual income.
As for the income inequality indices calculated by the World Bank, according to the latest study, Ukraine is indeed ahead of the rest. The value of the Ukrainian Gini index (about 25%) and the Palma coefficient (8.2%) is the best in Europe.
This begs a logical question: how is this possible? Experts explain this phenomenon by the high volume of the shadow economy and the low quality of per capita income statistics taken into account when calculating inequality indices. But optimists reassure: not everything is so bad, and we still have a chance to get into the club of countries with the lowest level of social inequality, just... from a different entrance. They say that we have our own unique path of development, and if it doesn’t work out like everyone else, then we will definitely succeed in our own way.
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There are only three options when one might be ardently interested in salary statistics in different countries of Europe and the entire civilized world:
- simple curiosity;
- academic interest;
- selection of new habitats.
In the first two cases, general data is sufficient, but when the goal is to move to new country in search of a new life, information should only be accurate and reliable.
The warning may seem unnecessary; it is easy to find any information and income ratings of the population in all corners of the world on the Internet. However, in reality they are more often publicity stunts than real representations of cases. The real numbers have slightly different characteristics.
A simple calculation of average pay within states, carried out by local statistical agencies, represents the arithmetic average of the income of the entire population. In other words:
- They take a list of all existing professions, positions, specialties officially registered by the state.
- Add up all earnings according to the list.
- Divide the resulting amount by the number of positions.
As a result, data obtained is far from reality. After all, they add up and divide the income of those working not in one area, but the money of the top management large companies, and echelons of power, and school cleaners. It is not surprising that the obtained figures later outrage the residents of the periphery, who have never held so much money in their hands.
The more advanced statistical centers that calculate average wages in the world first try to conduct in-depth monitoring of existing social groups, areas of activity, and professions in order to reduce errors to a minimum. However, all the same, reality falls significantly short of the calculation results. In addition, the average monthly income is usually calculated without taking into account tax deductions, social payments and other deductions. Therefore, the figures are overestimated by another 10-40%, depending on the state.
Conclusion: average salaries officially approved by governments themselves are almost always biased; it is better to rely on this information with caution.
International statistics
The calculations of the International Labor Organization (ILO) are closer to the truth. The charts she compiled are based on a detailed study of the situation in 70 areas of the world whose economies are the most successful. The final table of indicators is a list where the top lines are occupied by the highest-income nations, and then in descending order of values. Monetary unit For calculations, the US dollar was chosen, but adjusted for the fact that in different countries $1 can buy different quantities of goods. Thus, the data does not reflect the overall profitability against the backdrop of all countries at once, but the consumer weight of labor pay for a particular region, based on the ratio of domestic prices and average profit.
How international statistics work:
- Only wages of employees are taken into account;
- the level, qualifications, and experience of the working masses are taken into account;
- Businessmen, private entrepreneurs/individual entrepreneurs, recipients of social benefits for unemployment, disability, and pensioners are excluded from the calculations.
Ten countries with the best salaries
Important! The figures below may differ slightly from official statistics.
The fact is that the ILO ranking is published annually, but in reality it is compiled on the basis of data for several previous years. Moreover, salaries different countries can be compared across different years. Even in the regularly updated Wikipedia article with a rating table there is a separate column with the date of relevance of the data. This is due to the gigantic volumes of information that need to be processed, as well as the uneven flow of statistics from different countries.
Accordingly, citizens of the Scandinavian region, Western Europeans, residents of the continent of North America, residents of the Commonwealth of Australia, Japanese, and South Koreans earn the most. At the same time, the values in the TOP 5 do not fall below $4,500, and in the TOP 10 – $3,000.
The last five points of the table are given for comparison.
Real income
After studying the official rating, it is better to exhale and look at the real state of affairs. The fact is that the rating does not take into account taxes, and they are different in each state. If we reconsider the indicators from the point of view of net profit in hand, the picture in 2019 changes slightly.
Norway, which is in first place with $7,000, loses almost half of the amount in taxes, so they manage to get on average about $3,000.
Australia – after paying taxes, Australians also get only half the amount of the $5,000 declared by the rating. But the Green Continent consistently holds the bar for the most expensive minimum rate per hour.
Average salary statistics in Australia, Australian dollars per week
New Zealand has a very lenient tax system with many conditions and benefits. Therefore, there is almost no concept of maximum or minimum profit. Everyone is paid according to their level of work ethic, and it can be said that New Zealanders have the best average salary in the world.
New Zealand Minimum Wage Statistics, New Zealand dollars at one o'clock
Germany – having initially almost the same $4600 as the United States, the Germans receive “only” $2800 net. But tax policy provides for an individual approach to each taxpayer, carefully taking into account all the accompanying factors of life. Also in 2015, a law on the minimum wage was adopted. From now on, the hourly rate in Germany should be from 10 USD. and more. Workers with a monthly income of $1,200-1,700 are considered low-income, and those living on $1,100 per month are considered below the poverty threshold.
Average salary statistics in Germany, euros per month
Canada - the native government does not allow paying citizens and immigrants who arrived by work visa, less than $10 per hour or $1,500 per month. However, taxes among northerners are not the most pleasant - $3,500 from the rating actually turns into a living wage.
Japan has extortionate taxes and a very flexible system of tax incentives. Taxation can reach 68% of fees; benefits can bring them down to 40%. The enviable earnings are “compensated” by a very expensive life, which amazes even wealthy American tourists.
France - the tax here bites off more than $1,000 from the average income, but the French live quite decently on the remaining $2,500 thanks to a good balance of income and prices. The minimum wage limit, including unskilled and foreign labor, is $1,600/month.
Italy – taxes are very low, but most of the population actually receives just over $1,300 per month. Students or immigrants even less (up to $1000). Women are paid 20% less than men.
South Korea - after replenishing the state treasury, the average South Korean receives more than the Japanese. If you dig deeper, the figure consists of a solid income of $3,000 and a minimum of $400. And yet, this difference is much lower than in the USA, Russia or Japan.
In total, the adjusted largest salaries in the world look like this:
- New Zealand – $4000.
- USA – $3500.
- Norway – $3300.
- Germany – $2800.
- Italy – $2600.
- Australia – 2.4-2.6 thousand dollars.
- France – $2500.
- South Korea – $2400.
- Japan – $2000.
- Canada – $1500.
Who gets paid the most by profession?
- Norway pays the most to doctors, IT workers, programmers, and oil workers;
- in Australia, residents of the capital earn well and residents of Tasmania receive little; doctors and programmers are highly valued;
- New Zealand pays the most for the work of lawyers and doctors;
- The USA pays dearly to engineers, teachers, doctors, police officers, and high-tech specialists;
- Germans willingly provide large incomes to talented computer scientists, financiers, doctors, and insurance specialists;
- Canada loves construction workers, computer scientists, truck drivers, engineers, chefs, oil workers, lawyers;
- the Japanese are traditionally unusual - in addition to standard computer and electronics engineers, designers, salespeople, architects, advertising geniuses, and PR people earn good money in Japan;
- IT specialists are entitled to up to $4,000 per month, the same amount for accountants, and in production you can earn more than $3,000.
In general, salaries in Europe in 2019 were recognized as the highest in the following specialties:
- Engineer-economist (from 20 thousand dollars in Belgium to 40 thousand dollars in Switzerland).
- IT specialist (from 20 thousand dollars in Belgium, Italy to 40 thousand dollars in Switzerland).
- Lawyer (from 18 thousand in Belgium to 40 thousand dollars in Switzerland, Germany).
Countries with low minimum wages
When studying global earnings statistics, it should be taken into account that in addition to simple personnel pricing, there is also such a thing as hourly wage indicators. So, in another power this figure may be very high, but the working hours are low, therefore, the total profit is low.
In addition, some nations have very high differences between the upper and lower salary thresholds. For example, Chinese averages consist of the earnings of civil servants and factory workers, while the data of the former is 6 times higher than the statistics of the latter. Moreover, the calculations also took into account senior officials whose profits were 100 times higher than the minimum.
Conclusion: a low minimum wage of a country does not always mean low purchasing power, just as the fact that high averages do not mean the overall wealth of the nation.
Peculiarities of remuneration in states
It is worth knowing that the efforts to obtain the earnings indicated in the ratings are also different for different workers. Americans, Russians, Japanese, in order to justify the statistics, must work at least 40 hours every week (for Russians this is $1 per hour, in rubles - at the exchange rate). For the French, 35 hours are enough for this, for the Vietnamese, Kenyans, and Filipinos - all 48-55 hours.
The same goes for vacations:
- Working 55 hours a week, Filipinos are entitled to only 5 days of vacation per year;
- Mexico, Singapore vacation 6-7 days a year;
- The Japanese are entitled to 10 days of vacation;
- with the same load as the Japanese, the Russians rest for 24 days;
- workers from Denmark, Panama and Madagascar are on vacation for 30 days.
So it turns out that when choosing a new place of residence, it is not enough to know how much Europeans and citizens of other countries of the world receive. An equally important circumstance is the working and rest conditions.
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