Top 10 poorest countries in the World
KEY POINTS
South Sudan is the youngest nation in the world. It was born on July 9, 2011, six years after the agreement that ended the conflict with Sudan, Africa’s longest-running civil war. However, violence has continued to ravage this land-locked state of roughly 11 million
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Republic of Burundi has been in conflict consistently since gaining independence from Belgium in 1962. Culminating in the civil war in 1994, the conflict left nearly 65 percent of the population living in extreme poverty.
It turns out that there are some of the poorest countries in the world. The world’s poorest countries are classified by the World Bank system as low-income economies. The numbers are measured by Gross National Income (GNI).
Gross national income per capita is calculated based on a country’s total income divided by its population. Poverty is a condition where it is difficult to fulfill basic needs. Poverty is also a global problem. When poverty increases, a country will experience more social problems, such as crime.
Countries hit hardest by poverty are often countries that are also caught in other crises, including conflict, hunger, and climate change. On average, the poorest countries in the world are in Africa. To advance economically, most need funds and political stability to help modernize and expand industry and trade related to social progress and financial stability.
The world has enough wealth and resources to ensure that the entire human race enjoys a basic standard of living. Yet people in countries like Burundi, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic, the three poorest in the world, continue to live in desperate poverty.
Burundi
The Republic of Burundi has been in conflict consistently since gaining independence from Belgium in 1962. Culminating in the civil war in 1994, the conflict left nearly 65 percent of the population living in extreme poverty. Cities lack infrastructure, with very limited access to electricity, sanitation, and clean water
South Sudan
South Sudan is the newest nation in the world. It was born on July 9, 2011, six years after the agreement that ended the conflict with Sudan, Africa’s longest-running civil war. However, violence has continued to ravage this land-locked state of roughly 11 million.
Formed by the 10 southern-most territories of Sudan and home to around 60 indigenous ethnic groups, a new conflict broke out in 2013 when president Salva Kiir accused his former deputy, rebel leader Riek Machar, of staging a coup.
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic is the third poorest by GDP/capita but the hungriest in the world with the 2018 Global Hunger Index (GHI) showing “very alarming” levels. The majority of the 5.4 million population lives at or below the poverty line, with a life expectancy of only 52.9 years.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960, the Congo has suffered decades of rapacious dictatorship, political instability, and constant violence. The country turned a page in 2019, when Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, the son of legendary opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, was elected as the new president.
Somalia
Somalia has been one of the countries with years of political instability, rising inflation, and a poor business environment making the country unreliable for investors and consumers. Somalia is also highly vulnerable to drought, with food scarcity, low vaccination rates, and weak economic forecasts, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Niger
With 80 percent of its landlocked territory covered by the Sahara Desert and a rapidly growing population largely dependent upon small-scale agriculture, Niger is under threat from desertification and climate change. Food insecurity is high, as are disease and mortality rates, and the army’s recurrent clashes with jihadist group and Islamic State (ISIS) affiliate Boko Haram have displaced thousands of people
Mozambique
More than 30 million Mozambicans receive 3.5 years of education on average. Despite abundant arable land, mineral resources, energy, and water access, most of the population lives in poverty. After a 15-year civil war ended in 1992, corruption and political instability remain, while intensified fighting since April 2011 has rendered the country unreliable for investors.
Malawi
One of Africa’s smallest nations, in recent years Malawi has made strides in improving economic growth and implementing crucial structural reforms. Nevertheless, poverty is still widespread, and the nation’s economic, largely dependent upon rain-fed crops, remains vulnerable to weather-related shocks
Liberia
Liberia was ravaged by West African Ebola with 10,675 people infected and 4,809 people dying between 2014 and 2016. Finally achieving peace, the country still battles poverty with a third of children stunted by malnutrition.
In 2016, half of the population lived below the poverty line and most children completed less than five years of schooling. More than 42% of Liberians lack access to clean water, the basis of the repatriation efforts needed to offset poverty.
Chad
Chad is the tenth-largest oil reserve holder among African nations, it is also among the ten poorest. The landlocked Sahelian country, once an agrarian economy, became an oil producer in 2003, but the sudden windfall brought wealth to a few and misery to many.
At the time, the government introduced a law earmarking 80% of royalties and 85% of dividends from oil production for poverty relief.
By Getrude Mathayo
