MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina, richest country in Latinamerica

Argentina figures as the richest country in Latinamerica according to the latest report from the World Bank which takes into account other items beyond the traditional per capita Gross Domestic Product, to measure countries' wealth.

The new estimates of total wealth include produced capital, natural resources and "intangible" capital such as the value of human skills and capabilities, which in practical terms means measuring the value of education, government and confidence of the population in its authorities.

According to this evaluation of wealth, Argentina has a per capita wealth of 139.232 US dollars, followed by Uruguay with 118.463, Brazil 86.922 and Chile with 77.726. For the WB, Argentina is the country with the largest intangible capital in Latinamerica with 109.809 US dollars.

The WB report "Where is the wealth of nations?" includes 120 countries with natural resources representing 5% of wealth, 18% production and the intangible, 77%.

The world's average per capita wealth is 90.210 US dollars and in Latinamerica and the Caribbean 67.995 US dollars, with 12% from natural resources, 16% production and 72% intangibles. However countries such as oil rich Venezuela have a rather negative combination of 60% natural resources and only 10% from intangibles.

Developed countries have the highest intangible percentage, 80, with Switzerland ranking as the wealthiest country in the world with a per capita value of 646.000 US dollars, followed by Denmark, 575.138; Sweden, 513.424; United States 512.612; Germany 496.447; Japan 493.241 and Austria, 493.080; Norway, 473.708; France 468.024 and Belgium 451.174.

At the other extreme figures Ethiopia, the world's poorest with 1.900 US dollars per capita.

The most developed countries wealth per capita stands at 439.063 US dollars; medium developed countries, 72.897; medium low 23.612 and the lowest 7.216.