Iran has achieved a 74% growth in real GDP per capita from 1990 to 2025, ranking 87th in the world and one place above the United States. According to World Bank data, Iran's real GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity has increased from about $9.7 thousand in 1990 to $16.8 thousand in 2025.
Global Economic Growth Trends
Over the past three and a half decades, some countries have witnessed significant increases in economic output per capita. This growth in many economies has resulted from industrialization and the expansion of trade, while in others it has stemmed from a boom in natural resources and increased revenues from the export of essential goods. According to World Bank information, the real GDP per capita of various countries has been examined from 1990 to 2025, leading to a different picture of economic growth trends in various parts of the world.
Countries with the Highest Real GDP Per Capita Growth
In this ranking, Guyana holds the top position by a significant margin. The real GDP per capita of this country has risen from about $5.1 thousand in 1990 to $83.7 thousand in 2025, indicating a 1549% growth. Guyana's economic boom is closely linked to the recent oil boom that began in 2019 and is expected to reach 225 million barrels by 2024.
China ranks second with a 1404% growth. The real GDP per capita of this country was about $1.7 thousand in 1990 and is projected to reach $25.1 thousand in 2025. During this period, nearly 800 million people in China have been lifted out of extreme poverty.
Equatorial Guinea with a 1128% growth and Bosnia and Herzegovina with a 777% growth rank third and fourth, respectively. Myanmar and Vietnam also rank fifth and sixth with growth rates of 563% and 526%, respectively.
The prominent presence of Asian economies among the fastest-growing countries indicates an economic transformation in this region. Almost half of the top 25 countries in this ranking are Asian economies. Countries like India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and South Korea are examples of this trend, with their growth largely shaped by industrialization and trade development.
Overall, comparisons among countries show that the highest increases in real GDP per capita have occurred in economies that have either been on the path of industrialization and trade expansion or have benefited from a surge in natural resource revenues. Globally, real GDP per capita has risen from about $11.3 thousand in 1990 to $21.9 thousand in 2025, equivalent to a 94% growth.
