The Richest Countries in North America 2026

North America has a striking range of income levels when measured by GDP per capita at purchasing power parity. PPP adjusts economic output for differences in local prices, making it more useful than market exchange rates alone when comparing how much goods and services an economy produces per person.

The United States remains far ahead at about $94,430 per person, followed by Canada at roughly $70,006. Panama holds third place at $46,405, reflecting its unusually large logistics, financial, and international-services economy. The Bahamas follows closely at $44,106, while energy-rich Trinidad and Tobago remains the highest-ranked Caribbean economy outside the Bahamas.

In 2026, the richest countries in North America by GDP per capita at purchasing power parity are the United States, Canada, and Panama, at $94,430, $70,006, and $46,405, respectively. The rankings below cover sovereign countries in North America, including Central America and the Caribbean, for which the IMF publishes a 2026 estimate.

10 Richest Countries In North America

Jump to the list of all North American countries ranked by GDP/Capita (PPP)

1. United States - $94,430 GDP/Capita (PPP)

The United States remains North America's clear leader in 2026, with IMF-projected GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of about $94,430. The country's enormous domestic market combines high-value technology, finance, professional services, manufacturing, energy, agriculture, and entertainment. The IMF puts total U.S. output at roughly $32.4 trillion in current dollars for 2026, equal to about one-quarter of world nominal GDP.

Consumer spending remains the largest part of the economy, while the country also benefits from deep capital markets, major research universities, abundant domestic energy production, and a large venture-capital sector. Those advantages coexist with substantial income inequality, high housing costs in many metropolitan areas, and a heavy public-debt burden. The IMF nevertheless projects real GDP growth of about 2.3% in 2026, enough to keep the United States comfortably ahead of every other North American country on this measure.

2. Canada - $70,006 GDP/Capita (PPP)

Canada remains second in North America in 2026, with GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of about $70,006. Its economy combines a large services sector with major oil, natural-gas, hydroelectric, mining, agricultural, automotive, aerospace, and technology industries. Resource-rich western provinces play an outsized role in energy and commodity exports, while Ontario and Quebec contain much of the country's manufacturing and financial activity.

The United States remains by far Canada's most important trading partner, giving Canadian businesses access to the continent's largest consumer market but also leaving the economy sensitive to U.S. demand and trade policy. Canada continues to benefit from strong institutions, a highly educated workforce, and significant immigration, although weak productivity growth and expensive housing remain major challenges. The IMF projects real GDP growth of about 1.5% in 2026.

3. Panama - $46,405 GDP/Capita (PPP)

Panama holds third place in North America for 2026, with IMF-projected GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of about $46,405. Few countries of its size have such a large international-services economy. The Panama Canal, major Atlantic and Pacific container ports, the Colón Free Zone, banking, insurance, aviation, and business services all benefit from the country's position between two oceans and two continents.

The economy suffered a major setback after the closure of the Cobre Panamá mine and also faced earlier restrictions on canal traffic during severe drought. Growth has since regained momentum, with the IMF projecting real GDP expansion of about 3.8% in 2026. Panama still faces sharp regional inequality and a large divide between its modern urban economy and poorer rural and Indigenous communities, but its logistics network and service exports keep its PPP-adjusted output per person well above the rest of Central America.

4. The Bahamas - $44,106 GDP/Capita (PPP)

The Bahamas ranks fourth in North America in 2026, with GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of about $44,106. Tourism remains the central pillar of the economy, supported by large resorts, cruise traffic, marinas, restaurants, retail, and air links to the United States. Financial services provide another important source of high-value economic activity, especially in Nassau.

The same concentration that produces high per-capita output also creates vulnerability. The islands depend heavily on imported food, fuel, construction materials, and consumer goods, while hurricanes can inflict major economic losses in a matter of hours. Exposure to changes in U.S. travel demand adds another risk. Even with those constraints, the IMF projects real GDP growth of about 2.1% in 2026, keeping the Bahamas close behind Panama in the regional ranking.

5. Trinidad and Tobago - $37,098 GDP/Capita (PPP)

Trinidad and Tobago ranks fifth in North America in 2026, with IMF-projected GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of about $37,098. Its economy differs sharply from most Caribbean island states because oil and natural gas, not tourism, created much of its industrial base. Natural gas feeds large liquefied natural gas, ammonia, and methanol facilities, giving the country an export profile closer to an energy producer than a typical tourism-dependent Caribbean economy.

That specialization has generated relatively high incomes and supported finance, manufacturing, transport, and public infrastructure, but mature energy fields and inconsistent gas supply have also limited growth. The IMF projects real GDP expansion of only about 0.8% in 2026. Diversification into business services, manufacturing, logistics, digital industries, and tourism remains important if the country is to reduce its dependence on hydrocarbon production and international energy prices.

6. Saint Kitts and Nevis - $35,616 GDP/Capita (PPP)

Saint Kitts and Nevis reaches about $35,616 in GDP per capita at purchasing power parity in 2026, placing the two-island federation sixth in North America. Tourism, real estate, financial activity, construction, and light manufacturing now dominate an economy that moved away from commercial sugar production after the industry closed in 2005.

Citizenship-by-investment revenue has played an unusually important role in public finances and investment, although the program has undergone tighter regional standards and due-diligence requirements. Membership in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union gives the country the stable EC dollar, which is pegged to the U.S. dollar. The IMF projects about 2.0% real GDP growth in 2026. High exposure to tourism cycles, hurricanes, and changes in external financing remains a constraint for such a small economy.

7. Costa Rica - $34,157 GDP/Capita (PPP)

Costa Rica ranks seventh in North America in 2026, at about $34,157 in GDP per capita at purchasing power parity. The economy has changed dramatically from its historic dependence on coffee and bananas. Medical devices, electronics, professional and business services, tourism, and other high-value exports now sit alongside traditional agriculture, aided by foreign investment and free-trade zones.

The country also benefits from a highly educated workforce, political stability, and an electricity system supplied overwhelmingly by renewable sources in most years. Tourism remains important, particularly around national parks, volcanoes, forests, and Pacific and Caribbean beaches, but export manufacturing and business services have made the economy less reliant on visitors than many Caribbean states. The IMF projects robust real GDP growth of about 3.6% in 2026.

8. Antigua and Barbuda - $32,921 GDP/Capita (PPP)

Antigua and Barbuda ranks eighth in North America in 2026, with IMF-projected GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of about $32,921. Tourism drives much of the economy through resorts, cruise arrivals, yachting, restaurants, transportation, and real estate. Financial and professional services provide another source of income, while manufacturing and agriculture remain relatively small.

The islands use the Eastern Caribbean dollar, which is pegged to the U.S. dollar, helping provide exchange-rate stability for a country that conducts much of its tourism and trade in U.S. currency. Citizenship-by-investment receipts also support investment and government revenue. The IMF projects real GDP growth of about 2.6% in 2026, although high energy and food import costs, limited fresh water, hurricanes, and dependence on overseas visitors continue to create economic risks.

9. Dominican Republic - $32,178 GDP/Capita (PPP)

The Dominican Republic reaches about $32,178 in GDP per capita at purchasing power parity in 2026, placing it ninth in North America. It has built one of the region's more diversified fast-growing economies, with tourism, construction, manufacturing, mining, telecommunications, financial services, and free-trade-zone exports all contributing significantly to output.

Punta Cana and other resort areas make tourism a major source of foreign exchange, but the country's industrial export base is equally important. Free-trade zones produce medical devices, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, tobacco products, and other manufactured goods, while remittances from Dominicans abroad provide substantial support to household spending. The IMF projects real GDP growth of about 3.7% in 2026, one of the stronger rates among the ten richest North American countries.

10. Saint Lucia - $30,398 GDP/Capita (PPP)

Saint Lucia completes North America's top ten in 2026, with GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of about $30,398. Tourism now sits at the center of the economy, supporting hotels, restaurants, retail, transportation, excursions, yachting, and construction. Financial services and small manufacturing industries add further activity, while agriculture is much less dominant than during the island's banana-export era.

Saint Lucia shares the Eastern Caribbean dollar and its fixed U.S.-dollar peg with several neighboring states, providing monetary stability for its import- and tourism-heavy economy. The island remains exposed to hurricanes, global travel downturns, and high imported food and energy costs. The IMF projects real GDP growth of about 2.0% in 2026, allowing Saint Lucia to retain a narrow lead over Mexico in the PPP-per-capita rankings.

Countries in North America Ranked by GDP/Capita (PPP)

Cuba is not ranked because the IMF's April 2026 World Economic Outlook does not provide a current GDP-per-capita estimate at purchasing power parity for the country. Dependent territories are also excluded from this sovereign-country ranking.

Discover More Rich Countries

The Richest Countries In The World

Liechtenstein, Singapore, and Ireland are the three richest countries in the world for 2026 by IMF-estimated GDP per capita at purchasing power parity, at $195,372, $173,708, and $159,129, respectively.

The Richest Countries In Europe

Liechtenstein, Ireland, and Luxembourg rank as the three richest countries in Europe for 2026, with GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of $195,372, $159,129, and $156,719, respectively.

The Richest Countries In Asia

Singapore, Qatar, and Brunei are the richest countries in Asia for 2026, with GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of $173,708, $112,312, and $97,858, respectively.

The Richest Countries In South America

Guyana, Uruguay, and Chile are the richest countries in South America for 2026, with GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of $95,477, $39,030, and $37,336, respectively.

The Richest Countries In Africa

Seychelles, Mauritius, and Gabon are the richest countries in Africa for 2026, with GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of $35,855, $34,830, and $25,847, respectively.

The Richest Countries In South Asia

The Maldives, Bhutan, and India are the richest countries in South Asia for 2026, with GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of $37,826, $20,135, and $12,801, respectively.

Date updated: 7 October 2026