GDP per capita ranking 1981 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by GDP per Capita (Nominal) in 1981, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: Brunei Darussalam (48,793.44). A total of 163 economies reported a value that year.
| # | Country | current US$ (1981) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brunei Darussalam | 48,793.44 |
| 2 | United Arab Emirates | 44,854.52 |
| 3 | Monaco | 44,157.43 |
| 4 | Qatar | 29,543.31 |
| 5 | Saudi Arabia | 28,703.36 |
| 6 | Liechtenstein | 19,929.41 |
| 7 | Switzerland | 17,931.2 |
| 8 | Kuwait | 15,825.19 |
| 9 | Iceland | 15,666.38 |
| 10 | Sweden | 15,563.83 |
| 11 | Norway | 15,462.78 |
| 12 | United States | 13,976.11 |
| 13 | Luxembourg | 13,837.13 |
| 14 | Bermuda | 13,687.8 |
| 15 | Canada | 12,379.04 |
| 16 | Denmark | 12,000.21 |
| 17 | Australia | 11,870.86 |
| 18 | Netherlands | 11,537.4 |
| 19 | France | 10,955.9 |
| 20 | Finland | 10,925.1 |
Where are they now?
The top five of 1981 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 1981 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| Brunei Darussalam | #41 | #55 |
| United Arab Emirates | #27 | #32 |
| Monaco | #1 | #1 |
| Qatar | #14 | #18 |
| Saudi Arabia | #38 | #50 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest GDP per capita in 1981?
Brunei Darussalam, with 48,793.44 (current US$).
How many countries are included?
163 economies reported a value for NY.GDP.PCAP.CD in 1981. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.