Qatar has been ranked as the
world's richest country per capita in a new list compiled by US-based
Forbes magazine. Blessed with the third-largest natural gas reserves in
the world, the Arab Gulf emirate of 1.7 million people is benefitting
from a rebound in oil prices.
Adjusted for purchasing power (PPP), Qatar has an estimated gross
domestic product per capita of $88,222.
In second place on the list is Luxembourg, with a per capita GDP on a purchasing-power parity (PPP) basis of $81,466.
Technology, manufacturing and
finance hub Singapore is ranked third on the list. The country’s GDP
(PPP) per capita is $56,694 (estimated from 2009).
o rank the world’s wealthiest countries, Forbes looked at GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power for 182 nations.
At No.4, with a GDP (PPP) per capita of $51,959 (estimated from 2009) is Norway.
Oil-rich Brunei (ranked at No.5) has a GDP (PPP) per capita of $48,333.
Forbes used International Monetary Fund data from 2010, the most
recent available, while GDP figures for some countries were projections.
UAE oil reserves are ranked as
the world's sixth-largest[ and it possesses one of the most developed
economies in West Asia. The country’s GDP (PPP) per capita is $47,439
(estimated from 2009).
With a GDP (PPP) per capita of $46,860, US is ranked at No.7 on the Forbes list.
According to Forbes, the PPP-adjusted GDP—preferred by economists
when making international comparisons—takes into account the relative
cost of living and inflation rates, rather than just exchange rates,
which may distort real differences in worth.
Hong Kong is renowned for its
expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. As one of the world's
leading international financial centres, Hong Kong has a major
capitalist service economy characterised by low taxation and free trade,
and the currency, Hong Kong dollar, is the eighth most traded currency
in the world. Hong Kong has a GDP (PPP) per capita of $45,944.
Switzerland is one of the
richest countries in the world by per capita gross domestic product [GDP
(PPP) per capita: $41,950]. It also has one of the world's largest
account balances as a percentage of GDP.
The Netherlands was one of the
world’s first countries to have an elected parliament. And the benefits
of democracy seem to be reaching its citizens. Its GDP (PPP) per capita
is $40,973.
A highly developed country,
Australia is one of the world's largest economies. Australia ranks
highly in many international comparisons of national performance, such
as quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, and the
protection of civil liberties and political rights. [GDP (PPP) per
capita: $39,764]
Also known for its high standard of living, Austria is ranked at No 12 with GDP (PPP) per capita of $39,761.
Ireland: GDP (PPP) per capita: $39,492
Canada has a diversified
economy that is reliant upon its abundant natural resources and upon
trade. The country’s GDP (PPP) per capita is $39,171.
Kuwait (No.15) has the world's
fifth largest oil reserves and its petroleum products now account for
around 95% of export revenues, and approximately 80% of government
income. Ranked at No.15, the country’s GDP (PPP) per capita is $38,775
(estimated from 2009).
It's a new world record! Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, George Church and bioengineer Sri Kosuri have successfully managed to store 5.5 petabits of data, which is around 700 terabytes, in just one gram of DNA. The breakthrough science considers DNA like a digital storage device, where strands of DNA that store 96 bits are synthesised, with each of the bases (TGAC) representing a binary value (T and G = 1, A and C = 0), similar to the hard drive storing process where binary data is encoded as magnetic regions. 
