10 countries that are poorer than WhatsApp

Image: Facebook paid about $22 billion to acquire messaging app WhatsApp. Photograph: Steve Marcus/Reuters

Recently, Facebook closed the WhatsApp acquisition after European Union approved the purchase.

In a notice to the US stock market regulator (Securities and Exchange Commission), Facebook said that the final price of acquiring the app is about $22 billion.

The cost of acquisition went up from the earlier $19 billion due to the rise in Facebook's stock price.

The amount that the social networking site spent for the buyout is much more than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of many nations.

Let’s look at 10 well-known nations that have GDP less than the price Facebook paid for the chat messenger.

Please note: This does not imply that these nations can be bought by paying price equivalent to their GDP.

Bhutan

Image: A general view of the Tashichhodzong, (the fortress of the glorious religion) in Thimpu. Photograph: Singye Wangchuk/Reuters

GDP: $1.99 billion

Global rank based on GDP: 161

Population: 742,737

Maldives

Image: An aerial view shows the Maldives capital Male. Photograph: Reinhard Krause/Reuters

GDP: $2.28 billion

Global rank based on GDP: 159

Population: 393,500

Madagascar

Photograph:

GDP: $11.21 billion

Global rank based on GDP: 130

Population: 2.2 crore

Mongolia

Photograph:

GDP: $11.52 billion

Global rank based on GDP: 128

Population: 29.66 lakh

Mauritius

Image: A tour guide stands with a group of tourists at a viewpoint overlooking Port Louis. Photograph: Ed Harris/Reuters

GDP: $11.93 billion

Global rank based on GDP: 127

Population: 12.6 lakh

Zimbabwe

Image: Harare, Zimbabwe. Photograph: Gary Bembridge/Wikimedia Commons

GDP: $12.95 billion

Global rank based on GDP: 123

Population: 1.3 crore

Jamaica

Image: Street in Montigo Bay. Photograph: D Ramey Logan/Wikimedia Commons

GDP: $14.29 billion

Global rank based on GDP: 119

Population: 28.89 lakh

Iceland

Image: Icelandic town of Husavik. Photograph: Simon Johnson/Reuters

GDP: $14.66 billion

Global rank based on GDP: 118

Population: 325,671

Cambodia

Image: Tourists take photographs during a tour of the Bayon Temple, part of the Angkor temple complex, in the Siem Reap province. Photograph: Chor Sokunthea/Reuters

GDP: $15.66 billon

Global rank based on GDP: 113

Population: 1.52 crore

Nepal