Determining the absolute poorest country is complex, as "poverty" can be measured in different ways. However, if we are talking about countries classified as "least developed" by the United Nations, then we can identify a list of countries. As of December 2023, the United Nations listed 45 countries as "least developed." These countries often face significant challenges in areas such as economics, health, and education.
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as of December 2023
The UN utilizes several criteria to identify LDCs. These include factors related to:
- Gross National Income (GNI) per capita: A measure of a country's average income.
- Human Assets Index (HAI): This index includes indicators of health and education.
- Economic Vulnerability Index (EVI): This index measures a country's vulnerability to economic and environmental shocks.
Based on the UN criteria, the following 45 countries are categorized as least developed as of December 2023:
| Country | Country | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Gambia | Mozambique |
| Angola | Guinea | Myanmar |
| Bangladesh | Guinea-Bissau | Nepal |
| Benin | Haiti | Niger |
| Burkina Faso | Kiribati | Rwanda |
| Burundi | Lao People's Democratic Rep. | Sao Tome and Principe |
| Cambodia | Lesotho | Senegal |
| Central African Republic | Liberia | Sierra Leone |
| Chad | Madagascar | Solomon Islands |
| Comoros | Malawi | Somalia |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Mali | South Sudan |
| Djibouti | Mauritania | Sudan |
| Eritrea | ||
| Ethiopia |
Important Note: It is crucial to understand that this list reflects "least developed" status, which encompasses various factors and challenges. It is not solely based on income. Also, different organizations may use different metrics and thus have varying lists. While some of these countries have very low GNI, others have higher income but struggle in other human development sectors. Therefore, using this classification from the UN, we can identify the 45 countries above as the poorest based on the combined indices.
