In this brief article, we’ll discuss low economic development countries and their issues. If you want more details on struggling economies, read Top 20 Most Underdeveloped Countries In The World In 2023.
8. Liberia
Composite Ranking: 8
Liberia boasts abundant natural resources, including gold, diamonds, leather, and timber. However, both its informal and regulated economies face significant developmental hurdles, with 55% of citizens living below the poverty line. Still recovering from a devastating civil war and the 2014 Ebola outbreak, the nation bears lasting scars.
7. Eritrea
Composite Ranking: 7
Eritrea’s authoritative governance and military conscription policies hinder its progress, limiting human capital by restricting spending on R&D, education, and employment sector reforms. With limited foreign investment, its economy struggles, resulting in poverty and food insecurity. Although there have been some improvements in Eriteria’s healthcare, evidenced by decreases in maternal and child mortality, the health infrastructure remains underdeveloped.
6. Niger
Composite Ranking: 6
Ranked third-last in the Human Development Index 2022, Niger displays below average achievements in life expectancy, standard of living, and education. Its underdevelopment primarily results from rampant poverty, food insecurity, and climate change. Over 40% of Niger’s children under five experience stunting due to malnutrition, highlighting the severe challenges facing this landlocked West African nation.
5. Mozambique
Composite Ranking: 5
Despite its significant natural resources, Mozambique grapples with high poverty rates and inequality. Recurrent climatic shocks, a high disease burden, and political instability hinder the nation’s development. Struggling with the aftermath of a civil war and infectious diseases, Mozambique relies on U.S. aid for health improvements and food insecurity mitigation.
4. Somalia
Composite Ranking: 4
Somalia, entrenched in protracted conflict and burdened by fragile institutions, embodies a complex humanitarian crisis. Food insecurity is pervasive, affecting 2.7 million people. Limited access to basic services and employment opportunities exacerbate the situation for its vulnerable, primarily nomadic population engaged in livestock herding.
3. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Composite Ranking: 3
Although rich in minerals, the DRC exhibits low human development indicators due to persistent conflict. Weak governance, infrastructure deficits, and limited tax revenue for public investment further impede progress. According to UNICEF, around 3.3 million children under five suffer from acute malnutrition in the DRC. Ongoing conflicts have generated large populations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. As a result, many Congolese have sought refuge in neighboring countries, even when the DRC also hosts refugees fleeing conflicts in surrounding nations.
2. Central African Republic
Composite Ranking: 2
The CAR, plagued by instability and conflict, ranks as one of the world’s poorest nations. With a 2022 Human Development Index ranking of 186 out of 189 countries, it is engulfed in a humanitarian crisis characterized by displacement and underdevelopment. The nation also has one of the highest rates of child mortality in the world, with limited access to basic healthcare, education, and clean water exacerbating humanitarian needs.
1. Burundi
Composite Ranking: 1
Burundi, one of the world’s poorest countries, struggles with unemployment, illiteracy, and malnutrition. With a population of approximately 11 million, over 65% of its inhabitants live below the poverty line. About 90% of the populace depends on agriculture, making it highly vulnerable to climate change and market fluctuations. The country also faces a high prevalence of infectious diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS, with limited access to clean water and sanitation facilities compounding public health challenges.
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