Short answer
No. Some Muslim countries are among the richest in the world, and some Christian countries among the poorest. In 2024 Qatar produced about $110,900 a person, Brunei $79,200 and the United Arab Emirates $68,600. In mostly Christian Burundi the figure was $800, and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo $1,500. If religion decided wealth, those numbers could not sit side by side. What separates rich from poor is peace, honest government, resources and history. Somalia and Yemen were wrecked by years of war. Many Muslim lands were ruled by European empires until the twentieth century. Mughal India drew in gold and silver from the whole world. Under British rule, an Indian economist counted a drain of £30 million a year.
Full explanation
Rich and poor, Muslim and Christian
The United States government's World Factbook gives each country's output per person, adjusted for prices. For 2024 it gives Qatar about $110,900, Brunei $79,200, the United Arab Emirates $68,600, Saudi Arabia $62,700 and Malaysia $34,100. It also lists poor Muslim countries, such as Niger at $1,800 and Somalia at $1,400. It lists poor Christian ones too. Burundi, nearly 94 per cent Christian, is at $800, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 93 per cent Christian, at $1,500. The Central African Republic is at $1,100, and South Sudan at $400. The same faith is found at the top and the bottom of the table. So faith cannot be what sorts them.
Gives real GDP per person (purchasing power parity, 2024 estimates, 2021 dollars): Qatar $110,900, Brunei $79,200, United Arab Emirates $68,600, Saudi Arabia $62,700, Malaysia $34,100, Indonesia $14,500, Niger $1,800, Somalia $1,400, Yemen $200; Burundi $800 (93.9% Christian), Democratic Republic of the Congo $1,500 (about 93% Christian), Central African Republic $1,100 (mostly Christian), South Sudan $400 in 2023 (60.5% Christian). Its notes say Somalia had colonies of Britain, France and Italy until 1960 and that thirty years of war and instability crippled its economy; that Yemen, dependent on oil and gas, had its infrastructure, trade and institutions devastated by civil war; that Afghanistan was ravaged by a long and destructive war after the Soviet invasion of 1979; that Qatar transformed itself within sixty years from a poor British protectorate known for pearling into a state with great hydrocarbon revenues, and is a leader in Islamic finance; that Malaysia is a major electronics exporter with high labour productivity, implementing anticorruption policies; and that Indonesia, colonised by the Dutch from the 17th century, is the largest economy in Southeast Asia.
The same faiths are found at the top and the bottom, so faith cannot be what sorts them.
War
Some of the poorest Muslim countries are those torn apart by war. The Factbook says thirty years of war and instability crippled Somalia's economy. It says Yemen's infrastructure, trade and economic institutions were devastated by civil war, leaving output at about $200 a person. Afghanistan went through the Soviet invasion of 1979 and decades of war after it. Where there is war, no country grows rich, whatever its religion.
Gives real GDP per person (purchasing power parity, 2024 estimates, 2021 dollars): Qatar $110,900, Brunei $79,200, United Arab Emirates $68,600, Saudi Arabia $62,700, Malaysia $34,100, Indonesia $14,500, Niger $1,800, Somalia $1,400, Yemen $200; Burundi $800 (93.9% Christian), Democratic Republic of the Congo $1,500 (about 93% Christian), Central African Republic $1,100 (mostly Christian), South Sudan $400 in 2023 (60.5% Christian). Its notes say Somalia had colonies of Britain, France and Italy until 1960 and that thirty years of war and instability crippled its economy; that Yemen, dependent on oil and gas, had its infrastructure, trade and institutions devastated by civil war; that Afghanistan was ravaged by a long and destructive war after the Soviet invasion of 1979; that Qatar transformed itself within sixty years from a poor British protectorate known for pearling into a state with great hydrocarbon revenues, and is a leader in Islamic finance; that Malaysia is a major electronics exporter with high labour productivity, implementing anticorruption policies; and that Indonesia, colonised by the Dutch from the 17th century, is the largest economy in Southeast Asia.
Empire and the drain of wealth
For centuries Muslim lands were rich. François Bernier, a French doctor who lived in Mughal India in the 1660s, wrote that gold and silver, "after circulating in every other quarter of the globe, come at length to be swallowed up, lost in some measure, in Hindoustan". Then came European empires. Britain, France and Italy held Somalia until 1960. The Dutch ruled Indonesia from the seventeenth century. In 1901 the Indian economist Dadabhai Naoroji, himself a member of the British Parliament, reckoned the "bleeding" drain of wealth from India to Britain at nearly or above £30 million a year. He quoted a British writer of 1835 who saw two striking facts in Bengal: the richness of the country, and the poverty of its people.
Bernier, who lived in Mughal India for twelve years, describes Bengal as richer than Egypt in rice, grain and goods of trade such as silks, cotton and indigo, and Indian craftsmen making carpets, brocades and fine cloths for the home market and for export. He writes: "It should not escape notice that gold and silver, after circulating in every other quarter of the globe, come at length to be swallowed up, lost in some measure, in Hindoustan."
Gives real GDP per person (purchasing power parity, 2024 estimates, 2021 dollars): Qatar $110,900, Brunei $79,200, United Arab Emirates $68,600, Saudi Arabia $62,700, Malaysia $34,100, Indonesia $14,500, Niger $1,800, Somalia $1,400, Yemen $200; Burundi $800 (93.9% Christian), Democratic Republic of the Congo $1,500 (about 93% Christian), Central African Republic $1,100 (mostly Christian), South Sudan $400 in 2023 (60.5% Christian). Its notes say Somalia had colonies of Britain, France and Italy until 1960 and that thirty years of war and instability crippled its economy; that Yemen, dependent on oil and gas, had its infrastructure, trade and institutions devastated by civil war; that Afghanistan was ravaged by a long and destructive war after the Soviet invasion of 1979; that Qatar transformed itself within sixty years from a poor British protectorate known for pearling into a state with great hydrocarbon revenues, and is a leader in Islamic finance; that Malaysia is a major electronics exporter with high labour productivity, implementing anticorruption policies; and that Indonesia, colonised by the Dutch from the 17th century, is the largest economy in Southeast Asia.
Naoroji, an Indian economist who sat in the British Parliament in the 1890s, argues that British rule drained India's wealth. He reckons the "bleeding" and impoverishing drain by the foreign dominion at nearly or above £30,000,000 a year, up from about £3,000,000 a year at the start of the nineteenth century. He quotes Montgomery Martin, writing in 1835 from a survey of Bengal and Bihar, on two striking facts: the richness of the country, and the poverty of its people.
What Islam teaches about wealth and honesty
Islam does not hold people back from earning. The Qur'an says that when the Friday prayer is over, believers should spread through the land and seek Allah's (﷾) bounty. It allows trade and forbids usury, and calls for trade by mutual consent. It forbids using wealth to bribe judges, and commands Muslims to return trusts to their owners and to judge with justice. Corruption and injustice break these commands; they do not follow them. The Factbook notes Malaysia's anticorruption policies, its electronics exports and its high productivity, and calls Qatar a leader in Islamic finance.
“And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may prosper.”
“Those who devour usury will not stand except as stand one whom the Evil one by his touch Hath driven to madness. That is because they say: "Trade is like usury," but Allah hath permitted trade and forbidden usury. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for Allah (to judge); but those who repeat (The offence) are companions of the Fire: They will abide therein (for ever).”
“O ye who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities: But let there be amongst you Traffic and trade by mutual good-will: Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily Allah hath been to you Most Merciful!”
“And do not eat up your property among yourselves for vanities, nor use it as bait for the judges, with intent that ye may eat up wrongfully and knowingly a little of (other) people's property.”
“Allah doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are due; And when ye judge between man and man, that ye judge with justice: Verily how excellent is the teaching which He giveth you! For Allah is He Who heareth and seeth all things.”
Gives real GDP per person (purchasing power parity, 2024 estimates, 2021 dollars): Qatar $110,900, Brunei $79,200, United Arab Emirates $68,600, Saudi Arabia $62,700, Malaysia $34,100, Indonesia $14,500, Niger $1,800, Somalia $1,400, Yemen $200; Burundi $800 (93.9% Christian), Democratic Republic of the Congo $1,500 (about 93% Christian), Central African Republic $1,100 (mostly Christian), South Sudan $400 in 2023 (60.5% Christian). Its notes say Somalia had colonies of Britain, France and Italy until 1960 and that thirty years of war and instability crippled its economy; that Yemen, dependent on oil and gas, had its infrastructure, trade and institutions devastated by civil war; that Afghanistan was ravaged by a long and destructive war after the Soviet invasion of 1979; that Qatar transformed itself within sixty years from a poor British protectorate known for pearling into a state with great hydrocarbon revenues, and is a leader in Islamic finance; that Malaysia is a major electronics exporter with high labour productivity, implementing anticorruption policies; and that Indonesia, colonised by the Dutch from the 17th century, is the largest economy in Southeast Asia.
Perspectives
What critics say
Critics say Islam holds back economic growth, and that the Gulf is rich only because of oil. They say Muslim countries are badly governed because of their religion.
Critics say Islam holds back economic growth.
Rebuttal
The same faith is found in Qatar at about $110,900 a person and in Niger at $1,800, while mostly Christian Burundi stands at $800. Malaysia and Indonesia have grown through trade and industry. Peace, honest government and history explain the gaps; religion does not.
Critics say the Gulf states are rich only because of oil.
Rebuttal
Oil alone does not make a country rich: Yemen also depends on oil and gas, yet war has left it at about $200 a person. Malaysia grew as a major exporter of electronics. What matters is peace and how a country's wealth is governed.
Critics say Muslim countries are badly governed because of Islam.
Rebuttal
The Qur'an forbids bribing judges and commands justice and the return of trusts. Bad government breaks Islam's rules. Many Muslim lands were also governed for a century or more by European empires, which drained their wealth.
The Islamic perspective
Islam is not the cause of poverty. Rich and poor countries share the same faith; war, empire, corruption and history make the difference. The Qur'an encourages honest trade and forbids bribery and injustice.
Some Muslim countries are among the richest in the world and some Christian countries among the poorest.
A French visitor to Mughal India wrote that the world's gold and silver ended up there.
Dadabhai Naoroji reckoned the drain of wealth from India under British rule at about £30 million a year.
The Qur'an encourages trade, forbids bribing judges and commands justice.