Europe holds the position of the world’s second-largest economy. It is fueled mostly by the advanced industries, innovation, and high living standards of Western European nations. In contrast, many countries in Eastern and Southeastern Europe continue to lag behind economically. The reasons vary, from decades of Soviet communist rule and limited natural resources to small populations and slow reform processes.
Some nations have also dealt with wars, internal conflict, or deep economic crises that set back the progress made. In this gallery, we explore some of Europe’s poorest countries, ranked by GDP per capita and purchasing power parity (PPP), and understand the historical and structural factors behind their economic struggles. Want to know which countries made the list? Click to find out.
All figures are in USD.