Poorest Countries in South America 2026
- GNI per capita is gross national income (GNI) divided by mid-year population. GNI is the gross domestic product (GDP) plus net primary income from abroad. GDP is the sum of the value of all goods and services rendered by a country’s residents.
- PPP GNI is gross national income converted to international dollars using purchasing power parity rates. An international dollar is a theoretical monetary unit that has the same purchasing power over GNI as a U.S. dollar in the United States.
Snapshot
As of 2025 data, Venezuela ranks as South America’s lowest-income country with a GDP per person of $3,805, which is well below the regional norm.
Several other countries with low GDP per capita include Bolivia ($4,478), Paraguay ($6,483), and Ecuador ($6,871), due to smaller economies and limited diversification.
South American countries with the highest GDP per capita, such as Guyana ($20,474), Uruguay ($23,021), and Chile ($17,073) show much higher earnings in comparison.
Income levels vary widely across South America, with several countries continuing to lag behind the regional average. Thus, in the context of this article, the term “poorest” refers to GDP per person, as that offers a clearer view of average earning levels than total economic output alone. Across the countries discussed, lower incomes are shaped less by short-term conditions and more by such structural factors as economic concentration, volatility, and limited diversification – factors that also influence broader measures of quality of life.
Profiles of South America’s Poorest Countries
Venezuela
Venezuela ranks as the lowest-income country in South America, where everyday earnings remain limited for many households. An economy built heavily around oil has left incomes vulnerable to sharp swings, making it harder for steady, broad-based wage growth to take hold.
Bolivia
Bolivia remains one of South America’s lowest-income countries, where many households get by on relatively modest earnings. A large informal economy and reliance on resource extraction have made income growth uneven and often unpredictable for workers.
Paraguay
Paraguay sits among South America’s lower-income countries, where many workers earn below the regional average. A highly concentrated agricultural economy and limited opportunities outside a few key sectors have kept income growth uneven for much of the population.
Ecuador
Ecuador remains among South America’s lower-income countries, with many households earning modest wages by regional standards. An economy closely tied to oil exports and lower-paying agricultural work has made incomes sensitive to global price shifts rather than steady domestic growth.
Suriname
Suriname is among South America’s lower-income countries, where average earnings remain relatively modest for much of the population. A small economy heavily dependent on mining and a narrow export base has made incomes vulnerable to global commodity swings rather than stable, broad-based growth.
Colombia
Colombia sits toward the upper end of South America’s lowest-income group, where earnings remain uneven across regions and households. While the economy is more diversified than some neighbors, large informal labor markets and regional disparities continue to weigh on average income levels.
Peru
Peru rounds out South America’s lowest-income group, with earnings that remain modest despite a relatively broad export base. Strong dependence on commodities and persistent income gaps between urban and rural areas have kept average wages from rising more evenly across the country.
