Which are the richest countries in Europe by GDP per capita?
Monaco is the richest country in Europe by GDP per person, at $288,000. Liechtenstein is second at $226,800 and Luxembourg third at $158,700. The average for Europe, total GDP divided by total population, is $43,371.
The five richest countries per person have 15.3 million people between them, fewer than the Netherlands. Monaco has 38,340 residents, no income tax, and more jobs than residents. Liechtenstein and Luxembourg count the output of cross-border commuters who are not counted as residents. Ireland's number is inflated by multinational profits, and the Irish statistics office's own corrected measure is about 40 percent lower.
Switzerland is the first country on the list where the number is not distorted by one of those effects, and Iceland and Norway follow it. Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden are the largest economies in the top ten. Germany, Europe's biggest economy, is 13th at $65,300; the United Kingdom is 15th, France 19th and Italy 20th. Russia, the largest country in Europe by area and population, is 36th at $18,530.
| # | Country | GDP per capita | Population | Total GDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monaco | $288,000 | 38,340 | $11.1 billion |
| 2 | Liechtenstein | $226,800 | 41,020 | $9.4 billion |
| 3 | Luxembourg | $158,700 | 687,000 | $110.4 billion |
| 4 | Ireland | $140,200 | 5.5 million | $779.4 billion |
| 5 | Switzerland | $126,200 | 9.1 million | $1.15 trillion |
| 6 | Iceland | $110,000 | 392,400 | $43.8 billion |
| 7 | Norway | $105,900 | 5.6 million | $599.4 billion |
| 8 | Denmark | $83,450 | 6.0 million | $503.8 billion |
| 9 | Netherlands | $79,920 | 18.1 million | $1.45 trillion |
| 10 | Sweden | $70,680 | 10.6 million | $760.5 billion |
| 11 | San Marino | $70,190 | 34,110 | $2.4 billion |
| 12 | Austria | $67,760 | 9.2 million | $623.7 billion |
| 13 | Germany | $65,300 | 83.5 million | $5.45 trillion |
| 14 | Belgium | $65,110 | 11.9 million | $776.7 billion |
| 15 | United Kingdom | $61,060 | 69.5 million | $4.26 trillion |
| 16 | Finland | $60,130 | 5.6 million | $337.7 billion |
| 17 | Malta | $53,560 | 579,700 | $30.7 billion |
| 18 | Andorra | $53,470 | 82,900 | $4.9 billion |
| 19 | France | $52,080 | 68.7 million | $3.60 trillion |
| 20 | Italy | $46,510 | 58.9 million | $2.74 trillion |
13 of the 20 countries in this table have fewer than 10 million people. GDP per capita rewards small places with one strong industry: banking, oil, a port, or a low-tax regime that attracts company profits.
Which are the richest countries in Europe by total GDP?
By the size of the whole economy the answer is Germany, at $5.45 trillion. This is the list people usually mean by "biggest economies", and it favours countries with many people.
Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy make up 50 percent of Europe's GDP between them. Russia is fifth. Luxembourg, second per person, has a total economy of $110.4 billion, about the size of Serbia's. See Europe ranked by area, population and GDP.
| # | Country | Total GDP | Share of Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | $5.45 trillion | 16.9% |
| 2 | United Kingdom | $4.26 trillion | 13.2% |
| 3 | France | $3.60 trillion | 11.1% |
| 4 | Italy | $2.74 trillion | 8.5% |
| 5 | Russia | $2.66 trillion | 8.2% |
| 6 | Spain | $2.09 trillion | 6.5% |
| 7 | Netherlands | $1.45 trillion | 4.5% |
| 8 | Switzerland | $1.15 trillion | 3.5% |
| 9 | Poland | $1.13 trillion | 3.5% |
| 10 | Ireland | $779.4 billion | 2.4% |
Rich per person or rich in total? The top five both ways
| # | By GDP per capita | By total GDP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monaco $288,000 | Germany $5.45 trillion |
| 2 | Liechtenstein $226,800 | United Kingdom $4.26 trillion |
| 3 | Luxembourg $158,700 | France $3.60 trillion |
| 4 | Ireland $140,200 | Italy $2.74 trillion |
| 5 | Switzerland $126,200 | Russia $2.66 trillion |
Only Ireland, Switzerland, Netherlands are in the top ten on both lists. The rest of the per-person list is small countries, and the rest of the total list is large ones.
Why is GDP per capita not the same as being rich?
GDP per capita is the value of everything a country produces in a year, divided by its population. It is a measure of income, not of wealth, and it is an average, so it says nothing about how the income is shared. Three things push it up without making ordinary people richer.
- Commuters. Around 47 percent of the jobs in Luxembourg are held by people who live in France, Belgium or Germany, and in Liechtenstein the share is above half. Monaco has a similar pattern with France.
- Company profits. Ireland's GDP includes profits that US technology and pharmaceutical companies book there. The Irish statistics office's "modified GNI" removes most of this and is about 40 percent lower.
- Oil. Norway's figure is lifted by North Sea oil and gas, most of which goes into its sovereign wealth fund rather than into wages.
None of this makes the figures wrong. It means "richest country" and "country where the average person has the most money" are not the same question. Switzerland, Denmark and the Netherlands are the places where the two answers come closest together.
Which are the poorest countries in Europe?
Ukraine has the lowest GDP per person in Europe, at $6,980, and it was near the bottom before the 2022 invasion too. Kosovo, Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina are next. The gap within Europe is wide. Monaco's figure is 41 times Ukraine's, and Switzerland's is 18 times.
| From the bottom | Country | GDP per capita | Population | Total GDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ukraine | $6,980 | 39.0 million | $225.3 billion |
| 2 | Kosovo | $8,958 | 1.6 million | $14.1 billion |
| 3 | Moldova | $9,354 | 2.4 million | $21.9 billion |
| 4 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | $10,700 | 3.1 million | $36.8 billion |
| 5 | Belarus | $11,290 | 9.1 million | $102.0 billion |
How do we count?
Europe is the UN's regional grouping with Cyprus added, so Russia, Kosovo and the four small states (Monaco, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Andorra) are included, and Turkey, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are counted as Asian. Vatican City publishes no GDP figure and is not on the map. Monaco's figure is a World Bank estimate for 2024, because the IMF does not cover it.
GDP per capita and total GDP are the IMF World Economic Outlook (April 2026) projections for 2026, in current US dollars at market exchange rates. Population is the UN's 2025 estimate. The same figures draw the map, where you can switch between GDP per capita and total GDP with one click. More on the data.
Questions people ask
What is the richest country in Europe?
Monaco, at about $288,000 per person (World Bank, 2024). Among countries the IMF covers, Liechtenstein ($226,800) and Luxembourg ($158,700) are first and second. By total GDP, Germany, at $5.45 trillion.
What is the richest country in the European Union?
Luxembourg by GDP per person, at $158,700. Ireland is second at $140,200, though its figure is inflated by multinational profits. Germany by total GDP. Monaco, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are not EU members.
Is Switzerland richer than Luxembourg?
By GDP per person, no. Luxembourg is at $158,700 and Switzerland at $126,200. By total GDP Switzerland is much larger ($1.15 trillion against $110.4 billion), and by wealth per adult UBS's Global Wealth Report puts Switzerland first in the world.
Where does the United Kingdom rank?
15th in Europe by GDP per person, at $61,060, just above Finland and below Belgium. Second by total GDP, at $4.26 trillion.
Where does Germany rank?
First by total GDP at $5.45 trillion, and 13th by GDP per person at $65,300, between Austria and Belgium.
Which is the richest Nordic country?
Iceland by GDP per person, at $110,000, then Norway ($105,900), Denmark ($83,450), Sweden ($70,680) and Finland ($60,130). By total GDP, Sweden.
What is the poorest country in Europe?
Ukraine, at $6,980 per person in the IMF's 2026 projection. Kosovo ($8,958) and Moldova ($9,354) are next.
Is Russia a rich country?
By total GDP it is the fifth largest economy in Europe, at $2.66 trillion. By GDP per person it is 36th of 45 in Europe, at $18,530, below Croatia and Romania.