The richest country in the world has a population smaller than Birmingham | Travel News | Travel

When you think of wealthy countries the first places that spring to mind are probably places like Dubai, Qatar or America.

But the richest country in the world is actually a tiny European region with a population smaller than Birmingham.

Despite its tiny size and population, Luxembourg is the richest country globally, according to a report by Global Finance, which analysed the Gross Domestic Product purchasing power parity (GDP-PPP) of countries worldwide.

With a GDP per capita of $143,743 (approximately £109,000), Luxembourg is nearly twice as wealthy as the UK, which has a current GDP-PPP per capita of £58,880.

Despite its wealth, the country has just over half the population of Birmingham with just 672,050 people compared to Birmingham’s 1,144,900.

In fact, Luxembourg’s population size is only just larger than that of Glasgow, which sits at 635,640.

As well as being small and rich, Luxembourg has a lot to offer potential tourists, especially in the lead up to Christmas.

The 2024 Luxembourg Christmas Market runs from November 22 to January 1, 2025 with multiple markets popping up across the city, which is also famed for being walkable, making it the perfect place to wander through in the festive season.

Luxembourg’s scattered festive markets have everything you’d expect: fairground rides, ice skating, and food and drink vendors, each with a unique charm.

Place d’Armes, a central location in Luxembourg City, features a traditional Christmas market with food, gifts, and mulled wine.

However, if your legs do get tired, all public transport is free in Luxembourg so you can hop on and off as you please.

If you fancy a trip to this beautiful affluent country then November is one of the best times to visit, as is the spring in March and May. This is because the shoulder season means fewer tourists and milder weather. 

According to Skyscanner flights are currently leaving from all major UK centres with the cheapest return flights sitting around £133.