GDP per Capita versus FIFA Rank II

Some observation based on the plot shown in the post GDP per Capita versus FIFA Rank:

1. This year 17 countries have GDP per capita that is above average and 15 countries have GDP per capita that is below the World Cup (WC) 2010 average. It is almost an even split!

Question: Could that be the case for other World Cups?

Answer: Most probably.

The reason is that all African countries and all of the South American countries (including French Guiana) have a GDP per capita that is below the WC average. Africa normally gets 5 births (6 this year) and South America 4.5 births. Therefore, unless the economic landscape of the world changes dramatically, at least a third of the countries participating in the WC will have low GDP per capita.

On the flip side most European countries (13 births) have a GDP per capita that is above the WC average. Therefore, by definition, at least a third of the countries participating in the WC will have high GDP per capita.

Finally, the exact distribution would be defined by the participants from North+Central America and Asia+Oceania. However, I would expect it to be close to a 50-50 split with a bias towards the higher GDP.

The data are definitely biased by the distribution of WC births per continent!

2. Another thing:

• From the top 5 countries 1 has low GDP per capita (20%)
• From the top 10 countries 3 have low GDP per capita (30%)
• From the top 15 countries 6 have low GDP per capita (40%)
• From the top 20 countries 9 have low GDP per capita (45%)
• From the top 25 countries 11 have low GDP per capita (44%)
• From the all 32 countries 15 have low GDP per capita (47%)

That is outside the top 5 the distribution between high and low GDP per capita countries is balanced. Money and the quality of the national leagues seem to have limited impact to the ranking of the national team. As it should be!