Europe's Wealth Gap: European Countries Ranked From Richest to Poorest

By Stuart Wolf - Dec 23, 2024

Ever wondered which are the richest and poorest European countries? Well, Gross Domestic Product per capita is the best way to gauge a nation's prosperity. While it’s not the average wage, GDP per capita tells us how poor or wealthy a nation is. So here are Europe’s richest to poorest countries in descending order… and trust us when we say there are some big surprises in there!

#40. Monaco — GDP per Capita: $240,862

Remember Canto Bight, the casino planet that Finn and Rose visited in Star Wars: The Last Jedi? Well, Monaco is the Canto Bight of Europe. Many of Monaco’s residents are billionaires (it’s where all the Formula One drivers live), own huge mansions, and park their multi-million-dollar super yachts in the marinas.

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The sovereign city microstate’s wealth is divided between its tiny population of 39,000, who pay zero income tax, making Monaco not only the richest country in Europe but also the world.

#39. Liechtenstein — GDP per Capita: $187,267

Located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland, Liechtenstein might only be the same as Washington D.C., but it has the second-highest GDP per person in Europe… and the world! This is due to its low population of 39,000 highly educated, highly-skilled inhabitants working in banking, the financial sector, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology, coupled with low taxes…

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Liechtenstein is Europe’s fourth-smallest state, and the smaller the country, the higher the GDP per capita. Liechtenstein is also famed for its banking secrecy.

#38. Luxembourg — GDP per Capita: $128,259

Luxembourg doesn’t just have the third-highest gross domestic product per capita of any European country; it’s also third in the world. Nestled between Belgium, France, and Germany, this tiny enclave is one of the world's leading financial centers.

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Its wealth is remarkable, especially considering its population of just 650,000 people. Yes, folks, Luxembourg is home to numerous international banks, investment funds, and insurance companies.

#37. Switzerland — GDP per Capita: $103,684

Switzerland used to be famous for chocolate, holey cheese, fondue, and cuckoo clocks. After inheriting significant wealth from World War II, the beautiful Alpine country evolved into a global financial hub. It is now renowned for industries like banking, asset management, insurance, research and development, medical fields such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and high-precision exports like luxury watches.

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Switzerland’s 8.85 million citizens have a wealth of $100,000 a year and are paid in Swiss Francs; one of the strongest currencies.