The 23 poorest countries in the world

Based on data from the IMF, the magazine ranked the world's countries according to their GDP per capita and determined the poorest and richest ones.

The analysis also used a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) basis, which takes into account the living cost and inflation rates, in order to compare living standards between the different nations.

Some small territories, such as Liechtenstein, Nauru, Vatican City, Monaco, San Marino and Andorra were not included in the study.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ranks in as the poorest country in the world based on its GDP per capita over the 2009-2013 period.

With DRC citizens earning on average $394.25 a year, the country stands in sharp contrast with Qatar — where people earn an average of $105,091.42 a year.

Following the Democratic Republic of Congo are Zimbabwe, where in 2013 people earned $589.25 on average, Burundi, where they earn $648.58 a year, and Liberia, where people earn $716.04 on average.