What is the richest country in Asia?
Singapore is the richest country in Asia by GDP per capita, at about $98,800 per person, followed by Qatar and Israel.
Measured by nominal GDP per person, the most common yardstick, Singapore is the richest country in Asia at about $98,800 per person. It is followed by Qatar ($72,500), Israel ($60,300) and the United Arab Emirates ($50,300).
The rest of Asia's top ten falls into two groups:
- Energy exporters with small populations: Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Oil and gas revenue spread over a small number of citizens produces high averages, though large migrant workforces earn far less than the average suggests.
- Advanced, diversified economies: Singapore, Israel, Cyprus, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, which are rich because of manufacturing, technology, finance and services.
The ten richest Asian countries by GDP per capita
| # | Country | GDP per capita (USD) | Sub-region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | $98,800 | Southeast Asia |
| 2 | Qatar | $72,500 | West Asia |
| 3 | Israel | $60,300 | West Asia |
| 4 | United Arab Emirates | $50,300 | West Asia |
| 5 | Cyprus | $41,800 | West Asia |
| 6 | Taiwan | $39,500 | East Asia |
| 7 | South Korea | $36,200 | East Asia |
| 8 | Japan | $36,000 | East Asia |
| 9 | Saudi Arabia | $34,500 | West Asia |
| 10 | Kuwait | $32,300 | West Asia |
Richest by total GDP is a different list
GDP per capita measures average income, not the size of an economy. By total GDP, China is by far Asia's largest economy, followed by Japan and India. China and India have huge economies but much lower output per person.
What about purchasing power?
Adjusting for local prices (PPP) changes the order a little but not the leaders. Singapore and Qatar still lead, and the Gulf states move up because everyday costs there are lower than in Japan or Israel. Hong Kong and Macau would rank near the top on either measure, but they are Chinese special administrative regions, not countries.
See all 49 countries in the GDP per capita ranking.
GDP per capita: nominal US dollars, World Bank estimates for the latest available year (mostly 2024–2025; older for conflict-affected countries, and an outside estimate for North Korea, which publishes no official figures).
Related questions
Is Singapore richer than Qatar?
Yes, on nominal GDP per capita: about $98,800 for Singapore against $72,500 for Qatar in the latest World Bank figures. Qatar's figure moves with oil and gas prices.
Which is the richest country in South Asia?
The Maldives, at about $14,600 per person, thanks to tourism and its small population. It is far ahead of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.