The 12 Poorest Countries in the World That Remind Us How Far We Still Have To Go

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In a world characterized by remarkable economic diversity, poverty remains a devastating challenge. The world’s poorest countries, often marked by low GDP and significant economic hardships, face many obstacles to development.

These nations grapple with political instability, prolonged conflict, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to basic services like education and healthcare.

In case you are wondering, these 12 countries are the world’s poorest. We highlight their GDPs, the reasons behind their economic struggles, and the citizens’ challenges.

Burundi

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According to the World Bank, Burundi registered a GDP of $2.6 billion in 2023, showing significant improvement from the last few years. However, despite the progress, Burundi is still one of the most poverty-stricken countries in the World.

Despite its poor economic status, Burundi hosts refugees from DRC and Rwanda, which hurts its economy even more. Many other reasons contribute to the stagnated economic development, including its very small size, land-locked status, and over-reliance on traditional agricultural methods.

South Sudan

South Sudan is the world’s youngest country. Gaining complete independence in 2011, the country is just a new teenager, just trying to find its way around economic development. In 2023, it had a GDP of $11 billion.

Unfortunately, despite being this young, South Sudan faces numerous economic challenges. After gaining independence from Sudan, the nation fell into deep political instability, corrupt governance, and prolonged conflict.

Despite its wealth in natural resources, especially oil, South Sudan faces severe poverty, with over 80% of its citizens living below the poverty line.

Hopefully, as the country ages, it will catch up in economic development and provide its citizens with a better quality of life.

Malawi

According to the World Bank, Malawi recorded a GDP of $14 billion in 2023. Over half the population lives in poverty, while over ⅕ of the population lives in extreme poverty. The country’s rural areas face significant challenges in accessing clean water, sanitation, and healthcare.

The country is also experiencing rapid population growth, suppressing the already weak economy. Many rural residents depend on rain-fed agriculture, which does not always work well for them due to climate change.

Mozambique

Mozambique registered a GDP of $20 billion in 2023. The country’s economy has been on a downward trend in the past decade and is now facing difficulties recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the World Bank, before COVID-19, 13.1 million Mozambicans lived in poverty, but the figure shot to 18.9 million by the end of the pandemic.

Mozambique is also constantly hit by natural disasters like cyclones, droughts, and floods, which do not help the country’s economic development.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

12 Poorest Countries in the World Democratic Republic of the Congo — © Roger de la Harpe / Shutterstock

Despite having many mineral resources, DRC consistently ranks as one of the poorest countries in the World. In 2023, the country had a GDP of $66 billion and a population of just over 95 million people.

This central African country’s challenges are deeply entrenched, stemming from colonial legacy, persistent conflict, weak governance, and underdeveloped infrastructure. Since its independence from Belgium, DRC has faced numerous civil wars, including armed insurgencies.

The most devastating was the Second Congo War (1998-2003), often called the “African World War,” which involved several neighboring countries and resulted in millions of deaths. Persistent conflicts have destroyed infrastructure, displaced populations, and hampered economic growth.

About 75% of the people in DRC live below $2 per day, most relying on subsistence farming and informal employment for survival. The country is also consistently hit with health crises like Ebola, cholera, and measles, all of which the country struggles to contain.

Central African Republic (CAR)

12 Poorest Countries in the World Central African Republic — © mbrand85 / Shutterstock

The Central African Republic is another African country that faces a vicious cycle of conflict, chronic instability, weak institutions, and resource mismanagement, all contributing heavily to its poor economic state.

According to the World Bank, CAR had a GDP of $25 billion in 2023. Approximately 70-80% of the population lives in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $1.90 per day.

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The country’s high poverty levels are exacerbated by the ongoing violence and lack of access to essential services, trapping millions of people in extreme hardship with few opportunities to improve their lives.

Niger

Niger is a landlocked country located in West Africa. According to the World Bank, the country had a GDP of $26 billion in 2023, with over 40% of the residents living under $2 per day.

About 80% of the country is covered by the Sahara Desert, severely limiting its agricultural production. Unfortunately, despite these limited possibilities, the country still depends on agriculture.

Secondly, Niger has one of the highest fertility rates in the World, leading to rapid population growth, which outpaces economic development and resources. Also, recurrent political crises and military coups disrupt economic activities and deter foreign investment. Lastly, Niger is one of the West African countries that are severely affected by their colonial legacy.

Liberia

Liberia, with a GDP of $43 billion in 2023, ranks as one of the poorest countries in the World. This West African country has been grappling with challenges like the Ebola epidemic and civil conflicts. Liberia suffered from two brutal civil wars between 1989 and 2003, which devastated the country’s infrastructure, economy, and social systems.

The conflict displaced millions of people, destroyed schools, hospitals, and businesses, and led to a significant brain drain, with many educated professionals fleeing the country. It is a country facing challenges in all the basic sectors, including healthcare and education.

Madagascar

In 2023, Madagascar, the largest island in the Indian Ocean, registered a GDP of $16 billion. Over 70% of the population lives below the poverty line, with many surviving on less than $1.90 a day.

Madagascar has experienced repeated political crises, including coups, which have led to periods of instability, weak governance, and poor economic management. Rampant corruption and ineffective government institutions have also hindered development and exacerbated poverty.

Madagascar is also known for its unique biodiversity, with many species endemic to the isolated island. Unfortunately, the country’s resources have been under threat from deforestation, overfishing, and land degradation.

The destruction of forests, driven by slash-and-burn agriculture and illegal logging, has led to a loss of biodiversity and increased vulnerability to natural disasters such as cyclones and droughts. The country’s isolation also hinders global trade and the diversification of the economy beyond agriculture and natural resource extraction.

Chad

Chad, a landlocked country in Central Africa, is one of the poorest nations in the world. The country recorded a GDP of $13 billion in 2023. Just like many countries on this list, Chad has been facing prolonged periods of political instability, climate change, and a struggling economy, all of which contribute to widespread poverty.

Over 42% of Chadians live below the poverty line, and the poverty index has unfortunately been on the rise in the past few years. Chad also ranks amongst the countries with the worst Human Development Index (HDI).

The country’s geography—being landlocked and part of the drought-prone Sahel region—does not do its development prospects justice.

Lastly, Chad faces widespread corruption, with government institutions often inefficient or serving narrow political interests.

Yemen

Yemen has a GDP of $21 billion and is one of the countries facing the most devastating humanitarian crises. From political instability and civil war to economic collapse, Yemen has experienced it all.

The loss of oil and gas revenue, once a major part of Yemen’s income, has worsened the economic decline. More than a devastating 80% of Yemenis live below the poverty line.

Yemen has also been struggling with famine and food insecurity, a collapsed healthcare system, child malnutrition, and a lack of education for over 4.5 million children who are out of school.

Somalia

In 2023, Somalia registered a GDP of $11 billion. Since 1991, Somalia has been one of the most fragile economies in the World, which is heavily attributed to its political instability. With decades of conflict, terrorist takeover from the Al-Shabaab militia, instability, and humanitarian crises, over 70% of the residents live below the poverty line.

There are also many internally displaced Somalis living in refugee camps and depending on humanitarian aid. There have also been prolonged periods of lack of government institutions, hampering efforts to provide basic services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

The country is also faced with prolonged periods of drought, which leads to food insecurity.