Projections by the International Monetary Fund show that European economies will continue to grow through 2030, but disparities between countries will persist, with EU candidate states remaining at the bottom of the ranking. Among them are the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, and Kosovo.
According to an analysis by Euronews based on the IMF’s World Economic Outlook report, GDP per capita is rising in most European countries, but rankings are changing very little.
Experts stress that GDP does not always reflect the real standard of living and point to Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) as a more relevant measure, since it accounts for price differences between countries.
In this context, Ireland is projected to become the richest country in Europe by 2030, surpassing Luxembourg, the current leader. However, analysts view this performance with caution.
Alan Barrett, director of the Economic and Social Research Institute, explains that Ireland’s GDP is heavily influenced by the presence of multinational companies and notes that gross national income would better reflect the country’s real economic situation.
Other high-income countries—such as Norway, Switzerland, and Denmark—are expected to maintain relatively stable positions during the analyzed period.
Among Europe’s largest economies, Germany ranks highest in 12th place, followed by France (15th), United Kingdom (16th), Italy (18th), and Spain (22nd).
At the lower end of the ranking are mainly countries aspiring to join the European Union, including the Republic of Moldova, which remains among those with the lowest GDP per capita.
The only notable exception is Turkey, which is projected to rise to 29th place by 2030, surpassing three EU member states: Bulgaria, Latvia, and Greece.