Claim in 2017: “In terms of per capita income, Russia ranks 73rd (in terms of purchasing power parity)…”

Partially Correct: While the CIA ranks Russia 73rd, the country's lowest ranking from either the World Bank or IMF in their most recent data is 52nd. (Fact-check done in April 2017.)

Source of the claim: Joseph E. Stiglitz, Columbia University professor and recipient of the 2001 Nobel Memorial Prize in economics (April 2017)

Professor Stiglitz did not cite a source for his estimate. However, it is probable that the "73rd" rank comes from the CIA's World Factbook, which estimates GDP (PPP) per capita for 230 countries and territories in 2016. In addition to this likely source of Stiglitz's claim, we turned to the databases of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to check his number against their latest estimates of Russia’s per capita income in terms of purchasing power parity for the most recent years available vis-à-vis other countries. The results are below. 

Source Metric Year Russia's rank out of how many countries
CIA GDP (PPP) per capita 2016 73rd out of 230
IMF GDP (PPP) per capita in current international $ 2016 50th out of 188
World Bank GDP (PPP) per capita in constant 2011 international $ 2015 49th out of 183
World Bank GDP (PPP) per capita in current international $ 2015 52nd out of 182
World Bank GNI (PPP) per capita in constant 2011 international $ 2015 44th out of 135
World Bank GNI (PPP) per capita in current international $ 2015 51st out of 178

NB: Absolute figures for GDP can be viewed in our Facts section.