There are countries on Earth that are referred to as the least developed. In other words, poor countries. When compiling this top 10 poorest countries in the world, the following criteria were taken into account: gross domestic product per person per year, level of medicine and education, military situations, climate and other indicators.
10 Togo
With a population of more than 7 million people: a third of the adult contingent is illiterate, almost 2.5 million people. eke out a miserable existence, about 300,000 people. infected with AIDS. Also quite common diseases are malaria and tuberculosis. The main income of the country gives Agriculture. Togo produces cotton, beans, cocoa and coffee for export. Animal husbandry is underdeveloped due to the spread of the tsetse fly. GDP per year for 1 person is 1084 dollars.
9 Madagascar
With a population of about 23 million people. almost 90% (and this is more than 20 million people) have only 2-3 dollars per day for living. Many villages exist without electricity and running water. Economic instability and low living standards are provoked by the political crisis. The main incomes of the country are given by: spices and spices grown for export; fishing. Tourism is developing. But animal husbandry suffers from losses caused by locusts. GDP per year for 1 person 970 dollars.
8 Malawi
With a population of more than 16 million people. over 8 million are illiterate and drag out a miserable existence. Lack of doctors and unsanitary conditions lead to child mortality and low life expectancy. The country's main income comes from agriculture (tobacco, tea, peanuts are grown). GDP per year for 1 person 879 dollars.
7 Niger
More than 80% of the country's territory is "conquered" by the Sahara Desert. This speaks of constant droughts leading to crop failure and famine. 3% of the land is involved in agriculture. More than 17 million people live in the country. Of these, only a quarter of the population is educated. Lack of clean drinking water causes outbreaks of infectious diseases. The country has a high infant mortality rate. GDP per year for 1 person is 829 dollars.
6 Zimbabwe
The reason for the economic decline is the land reform of 2000-2008. With a population of over 13 million, more than 12 million are unemployed and more than 9 million are beggars. Underdeveloped medical care entails low life expectancy (45 years), the reason for this is AIDS. GDP per year for 1 person 788 dollars.
5 Eritrea
As a result of the 30-year struggle for independence, the economy suffered. Currently, fishing and animal husbandry are developing. Only 5% of land suitable for agriculture. The population is a little over 6 million people. Of these, 2.5 million are illiterate. There is a catastrophic shortage of drinking water in the country. This is where intestinal infections come from. GDP per year for 1 person is 707 dollars.
4 Liberia
In the 1990s, the country's economy was torn apart by two civil wars. At the moment, 3 million out of 3.5 million people in the country. unemployed. Lack of drinking water; poor medical care; the Ebola epidemic, which resulted in thousands of victims, led the country to a low quality of life. GDP per year for 1 person is 703 dollars.
3 Democratic Republic of the Congo
The country is periodically subjected to civil wars. The "African world" war, which claimed the lives of 5 million people, severely undermined the economy. The population of the country is about 78 million people. 54.5 million people are in distress. There are more than 3 million people infected with AIDS in the country. There is cannibalism. The main income of the country is the cultivation of corn, root crops, coffee, bananas. GDP per year for 1 person is 648 dollars.
2 Burundi
Agriculture (50% of arable land) and animal husbandry (36% of pastures) are developing in the country. Grown tea and coffee are exported. The country is a congestion of diseases due to a lack of medicines and medical staff. Diseases such as meningitis, cholera, AIDS are common. The population of the country is 9.3 million people. Over 4.5 million inhabitants are completely illiterate and in a distressed situation. GDP per year per person is 642 dollars. Industry and agriculture are developing in the country. A significant part of wood, cotton, tobacco, coffee is exported. At the same time, most of the inhabitants of the country are starving. Wars, constant dismantling of warring factions, high crime rates, corruption simply do not allow the economy to develop normally. Almost half of the country's inhabitants are not educated. With a population of just over 5 million people. More than 300,000 people are infected with AIDS. GDP per year for 1 person is 542 dollars.
The countries that are in our top 10 need external assistance and the help of charitable organizations to get Better conditions for life.
In 2017, the world's population surpassed the 7.5 billion mark. Its population is growing at a tremendous rate, in the 20th century alone it has grown by almost 4.5 billion inhabitants. For comparison, in 1820, according to demographers, the bar of one billion was crossed. If no global cataclysms occur on the planet, then in 2024 there will be eight billion of us. In total, according to the calculations of the Dutch mathematician and statistician Peter Grunwald, almost 107 billion inhabitants were born on Earth for the entire now officially recognized history of mankind (162 thousand years). It is characteristic that more than 90% of the annual population growth occurs in the countries of Asia and Africa, and these are the poorest regions of our planet. Every year, the UN ranks the poorest and richest countries in the world. Who entered it in 2017?
Common Causes of Poverty
Most of the population in China (nearly one billion four hundred million), India is not far behind ("only" by 150 million people). But despite the fact that these countries are the largest in terms of population on the planet, they are not even among the ten poorest countries. For several years, China has been in first place in the world in terms of economic development, and India's economy is one of the most powerful. If the population of India were not 1 billion 250 million people, but, say, 20 million, then Indians would be the richest people in the world. Therefore, the standard of living and its quality is not at all affected by the number of people, here it is for other reasons. Interestingly, both in 2016 and 2017, only African states were included in the TOP-10 of the world ranking of the poorest countries. And this is not surprising. After all, if you understand the causes of horrendous poverty, you can identify general trends, each of which should be considered separately.
All poor countries have common features
For centuries, the African continent has been a supplier of free work force and natural resources extracted from the bowels of the earth. All this time, rich countries treated the Black Continent in a consumerist way, as a result of which the economy of most African states is practically undeveloped. Nobody cared about development social sphere, education, medicine, infrastructure construction. The vast majority of African countries survive on the export of minerals and tropical fruits. If we do not talk about South Africa, Egypt and Morocco, then in other countries neither cars, nor electronics, nor clothes are produced.
Africa is the poorest continent on the planet The colonial legacy is still strong. The vast majority of African countries gained independence in the fifties and sixties of the last century. Since then, at least one generation of indigenous people has changed. But we must not forget that Africa for centuries was under the colonial yoke. Therefore, Africans themselves are accustomed to waiting for a solution to their problems from outside, counting on the fact that a rich white man will come and bring them food and clothes. This, of course, is a figurative expression, but even today many African countries survive due to Western humanitarian aid. And first of all, this applies to dozens of the poorest countries in the world.
A stable political system is always the fundamental basis for the economic prosperity of any state. In African countries, where armed conflicts have been going on for decades, the cause of which is the struggle for power, there is no need to talk about political stability. The problem is exacerbated by the omnipotence of armed gangs of drug dealers and arms dealers, as well as a long inter-tribal struggle.
Armed conflicts are one of the root causes of poverty The favorable climatic and epidemiological environment largely influences the standard of living and the economy. In one of the poorest countries - Liberia - for a year and a half, the deadly Ebola virus raged, claiming tens of thousands of lives and throwing back the state in its development for decades. Everyone is also talking about the recent famine and drought in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Low cultural and educational level is another reason for poverty. It is in the poorest countries of the world that the number of illiterate people reaches 95%. To this should be added the low cultural level of their citizens, who are not familiar with the elementary rules of hygiene and first medical care not to mention the possibility of the birth of creative ideas for the development of their homeland. Often it is these circumstances that contribute to the spread of epidemics and hinder the possibility of assistance from the world community.
Political instability, corruption in government, the omnipotence of criminals, as well as the lack of natural resources determine the low investment attractiveness of the world's poorest countries. This prevents the inflow of foreign capital into their economy. In principle, a Western entrepreneur considers Africa a high-risk zone, preferring to invest either in other regions of the world, or, in the worst case, in African countries, where relative political stability has been observed for many years.
Few African children have the opportunity to go to school General characteristics of the average poorest country in the world
Of course, each of the poorest countries in the world has its own characteristics, but at the same time, they all have certain common features that are characteristic of this category of states. Among them are the following:
Criteria World Bank, countries classified as extremely poor are those with less than $1,025 per citizen per year. For example, it is worth saying that in the richest states this indicator is almost 12.5 thousand dollars, that is, 10 times higher.
TOP 10 poorest countries in the world
To assess the level of welfare of countries, it is customary to use special indices. GDP (gross domestic product) is the total of goods and services produced in a year by all residents in all sectors of the economy. It is expressed in US dollars in total or per capita. But the level of prices in different countries can vary significantly. Therefore, GDP is recalculated taking into account PPP (parity purchasing power). Based on this indicator, country ratings are compiled. But according to the assessment of various institutions, they may differ somewhat.
Level of different countries by GDP (PPP) in 2016 The International Monetary Fund has calculated the approximate number of people on the planet living below the poverty line and recognized as beggars. There are about 800 million of them today. If a person spends no more than $ 2.25 daily, then he is simply considered poor. In total, 2 billion 800 million inhabitants of the planet Earth are recognized as beggars and poor today.
In fact, the poorest and most insecure country in the world is Somalia. But the long and bloody civil war that continues on its territory no longer allows us to talk about it as a single state.
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic in 2017 took the top line in the ranking of the poorest countries in the world. This is a former colony of France, which has been counting its independence since 1960. Almost from the very moment of obtaining sovereignty in this country, armed conflicts have not stopped, only over the past decade there have been five military coups. In fact, the state is controlled by armed gangs that trade in people, weapons and drugs. Naturally, this cannot but affect the standard of living, and scare away Western investors.
The population of the Central African Republic is slightly over 5 million. In 2017, the UN estimates that 88% are illiterate. The unemployment rate reaches 95%, the country has a huge number of homeless people. Caravan routes of armed smugglers run through the territory of the Central African Republic, who transport drugs and weapons from West Africa to Sudan, Somalia, and also organize their further transportation to the countries of the Middle East. The UN regularly sends humanitarian missions to the Central African Republic to help the population. But volunteers are trying to avoid a trip to this country, since local gangs have a tradition of taking white people hostage for the purpose of subsequent ransom. GDP, taking into account purchasing power parity (PPP), per capita in the CAR is $656. 6% of residents are officially recognized as infected with HIV.
Video about life in the poorest country in the world
Congo
Democratic Republic Congo is the second poorest country in the world with a GDP per capita of $784. We should not forget about the large social stratification of society, in which only no more than 5% of the population can be considered wealthy (by African standards) people, and the remaining 95% are regularly malnourished. Therefore, the figure of 784 dollars is very relative. The Congo has a huge population (almost 83 million people).
Armed conflicts and political instability lie at the heart of the DRC's problems. The Congo occupies a leading position in the world in terms of the level of corruption in government. Huge deposits of minerals do not serve the benefit of the state, some Western companies are plunderingly exporting huge consignments of non-ferrous metal ores, gold, precious stones from the Congo, solving their problems in a corrupt way. Most of the population (78%) is employed in agriculture. The level of its mechanization is minimal, the peasants use shovels and hoes in the old fashioned way, so there is practically no need to talk about the existence of the agricultural sector of the economy in the Congo. Mining is 99% controlled by armed gangs that collude with Western companies and local governments.
Wars are one of the causes of poverty in the Congo Burundi
Burundi is a small country in East Africa. Its population is just over 12 million people. Throughout its history, Burundi has repeatedly passed from hand to hand, from one colonizer to another. At first it was a colony of Great Britain, in the first third of the 19th century it fell under the influence of Belgium. Burundi gained official independence in 1962.
The agricultural sector plays an important role in the formation of GDP (40%). The main share of agricultural exports is tea and coffee. The country has virtually no infrastructure, access to medical care and education is very limited, a significant part of Burundi's inhabitants are starving. The unemployment rate exceeds 87%, GDP (PPP) per capita in 2017 is 818 US dollars.
The main problems of Burundi, like those of the previous two "leaders" of the rating, are crime, corruption and ongoing military conflicts. The country is unattractive from an investment point of view. Some Western companies operate in the agricultural sector of the state economy, producing and further exporting tea and coffee. At the same time, a significant part of the land of Burundi was given into the ownership of representatives of Western capital, who were able to acquire large agricultural land for mere pennies, using bribes to government officials of Burundi.
Political crisis continues in Burundi Liberia
Liberia is a typical representative of the states of West Africa. It recently ended the second civil war, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and took place with particular cruelty in relation not only to the enemy, but also to the civilian population. And today, on the streets of Monrovia (the capital of Liberia), you can see dilapidated houses, the walls of which are cut with traces of bullets and shrapnel. Previously, Liberia belonged to the United States of America. The very name of the country says a lot. It was inhabited primarily by yesterday's slaves who returned after the victory of the American North to their native continent. Liberia gained its independence in 1847. But, unfortunately, she did not give anything to the local population. Its population slightly exceeds 4.7 million inhabitants.
The main problem of Liberia is civil wars and constant changes of power. The last war was stopped with the help of UN peacekeepers, some of whom died during armed clashes with the warring parties. The UN mission in Liberia is one of the few examples where peacekeepers were forced to engage in armed struggle, which led to losses. Both opposing sides were categorically negative about foreign intervention, considering the civil war an internal affair of Liberia. Therefore, they repeatedly attacked peacekeeping convoys and garrisons.
Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world Despite the fact that today the situation in the country is relatively stable, its economy is still on its knees and does not show a tendency to grow. The level of GDP per capita in Liberia is 882 dollars, a significant part of the national wealth belongs to the ruling elite and their relatives. In Liberia large stocks gold and diamonds. Both civil wars, in fact, arose on the basis of the struggle for control over the deposits. Liberia is the poorest country in the West African region.
Niger
Niger (not to be confused with Nigeria) rounds out the top five poorest countries in the world. It is a former French colony that became independent in 1960. Almost 22 million people live in Niger. Four-fifths of the area is part of the Sahara desert. History is replete with a large number of military coups, long-term tribal conflicts and political strife. The country is experiencing an acute shortage of water resources, its infrastructure is practically undeveloped, 65% of the population cannot read and write, the network medical institutions very weak, they are located only in major cities countries. At the same time, the land of Niger is rich in minerals. It has large deposits of oil, nickel, molybdenum, gold and uranium. In the last five years, there has been a trend towards the economic growth of the country, Western companies enter its territory for the purpose of exploration and production and the wealth of the subsoil.
This is what a typical house in Niger looks like As of 2017, Niger's GDP per capita is over $1,100, which is controversial among analysts, some of whom suggest classifying the country as a developing country. Niger, like the Central African Republic, is dominated by armed gangs that control drug trafficking and arms sales.
Republic of Malawi
Malawi is a small country in the southeast of the African continent. Its population is approaching 18 million inhabitants. Almost a third of Malawi's area is occupied by the lake of the same name. Malawians suffer from total poverty, famine and epidemics. Three quarters of the population is illiterate. The economy of a small African republic is based on the cultivation of tobacco and the production of products from it. There are several factories of well-known transnational tobacco corporations in Malawi, where almost every able-bodied resident aspires to get a job. The priority sector in the economy is agriculture, its products account for 90% of exports. The country largely depends on the provision of humanitarian assistance by international organizations, as well as financial support. For every Malawian, there are 1,140 dollars of GDP. This allows Malawi to be classified as a developing country.
Agriculture plays a key role in Malawi's economy. Mozambique
The Republic of Mozambique slightly overtook neighboring Malawi in its development. Poverty is a national scourge in this African state as well. Its population is almost 30 million people. It is a former colony of Portugal, which became a sovereign state in 1975. After gaining independence from Mozambique, representatives of the white population emigrated en masse, and the new owners of the country unleashed a long and bloody civil war that lasted more than ten years and claimed several hundred thousand lives. Entire regions of Mozambique were depopulated, the population fled en masse to neighboring countries, the number of refugees exceeded 7 million. The current state of Mozambique in no way allows the country to be among economic leaders African continent. It is based on the mining industry and the export of coal and aluminum. Agriculture is also relatively well developed, its products account for a third of the country's total exports, and two-thirds of the working population is employed in the agricultural sector. The unemployment rate in Mozambique exceeded 60% in 2017. Most Mozambicans lead a subsistence economy, medicine is poorly developed and is represented mainly by foreign specialists. The literacy rate is below 30%. GDP per capita - $1,228.
Mozambique still shows traces of Portuguese rule Guinea
Guinea is a West African country that was a French colony until 1958. It was one of the first to gain independence in the last century as a result of the national liberation war, opening a Pandora's box for European colonizers on the African continent.
But in Guinea itself, democracy did not triumph, and the first truly democratic elections took place only 50 years later. More than 13 million people live in Guinea. The predominant religion is Islam (85% of the population), but there are also many Christians (10%), and there are also adherents of local African cults (5%). The literacy rate in Guinea is slightly higher than in the other listed countries, about 45% of the population can read and write. Until 2014, Guinea showed fairly high rates of economic development, but the epidemic of the deadly Ebola virus, which claimed thousands of lives of Guineans, and almost completely paralyzed the entire economy of the country and the construction of its infrastructure, threw back the development of this small West African state for years. ten ago. Guinea is interesting for Western investors because it has a lot of gold and diamonds in its bowels, as well as huge reserves of bauxite and iron ore. Experts consider Guinea one of the most promising African countries for investment. But at the same time, the vast majority of Guineans continue to beg, spending less than one dollar a day on themselves. Families often have ten to fifteen children, but infant mortality is very high, and the level of medicine is extremely low. Guinea's per capita GDP is $1,270.
The Ebola epidemic set Guinea back in development for many years Eritrea
Eritrea is a relatively new country in political map peace. She appeared as a result of a thirty-year struggle of local rebels with Ethiopia. Eritrea's independence was proclaimed in 1993 as a result of a national referendum. But in 1998, war broke out again with Ethiopia, which disputed the ownership of large territories that nominally belonged to new country. 150,000 people became victims, until now minefields have not been completely cleared in the areas bordering Ethiopia, and the local population, including children, are sometimes blown up by anti-personnel mines. At one time, the Eritrean military did not come up with anything better than to protect their potential territory from Ethiopia with a mine belt. Until now, international demining missions, consisting of the UN Blue Helmets, are operating in Eritrea, and it was thanks to the intervention of peacekeepers that the armed conflict was extinguished. But after gaining independence and the end of the war with Ethiopia, life did not become easier for the Eritreans. Power was usurped by a narrow circle of the military, who established an authoritarian dictatorial regime in the country.
Today, there is political censorship in Eritrea, as well as massive repression against the emerging opposition. The Eritrean dictatorship is forced to spend huge amounts of money on maintaining a large army, purchasing weapons (the UN imposed an embargo on arms supplies to Eritrea, the resolution was not supported only by the PRC, which is today its main supplier of weapons) and the maintenance of foreign military instructors. This greatly exacerbates the already dire economic situation state and stimulate the growth of poverty of its population. Along with poverty, resistance to the current regime is growing, so experts in the field of international security predict far from better times for Eritrea and a possible civil war.
The war in Eritrea was ended with the help of a UN peacekeeping contingent In 2017, the GDP for every Eritrean citizen was $1,320. The country's economy is based on agriculture, its products account for up to 70% of exports. A planned economy with administrative-command methods of regulation has repeatedly led the country's population to starvation. One reason for Eritrea's poverty is its international isolation. In addition to the conflict with Ethiopia, Eritrea launched a war with Yemen, which it lost, and also continues to supply weapons and mercenaries to Somalia, where civil war is raging. The country has a very favorable geographical position on the coast of the Red Sea, but this does not give it any economic advantages due to the above reasons. The population of Eritrea is 4.5 million people in 2017.
Madagascar
The paradise island of Madagascar was in tenth place in the ranking of countries in terms of poverty. It seems that the popular animated film of the same name is almost the only positive moment in the history of this African island. The population of Madagascar exceeds 25 million people. Most of them live in terrible conditions, sometimes without the most necessary things.
The island of Madagascar has the most beautiful nature and the richest animal and vegetable world which attracts a lot of tourists from different parts of the world. Tourism is one of the main items replenishing the Madagascar budget. It is also filled with income from the fishing industry and the export of rare woods growing in Madagascar. The level of GDP per Madagascarian is $ 1,350, which makes it possible to classify this large island nation among the developing countries of the world. But the distribution of wealth among the Madagascar population is extremely uneven. 97% of the inhabitants of the island live in the most difficult economic conditions, while the remaining 3% own its main wealth. Corruption is developed in Madagascar, but the government is relatively stable, there are no armed conflicts on political or interethnic grounds.
The island is considered one of promising directions for investment, if we talk about African countries. Madagascar is home to many wealthy foreigners who protect themselves from the indigenous population with guards and high fences. They consider Madagascar an earthly paradise, which cannot be said about the indigenous population of this large African island.
Video about life in Madagascar
How is poverty in America?
Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas. This is not only a beautiful island in the Caribbean and the birthplace of voodoo magic, but also a constant source of problems in the relatively prosperous American continent. The vast majority of the population of this island state suffers from constant hunger, many citizens of Haiti are trying by hook or by crook to leave their dysfunctional homeland, becoming refugees in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
For recent years Haiti was very unlucky. In 2004, a terrible flood claimed the lives of one and a half thousand Haitians, and tropical hurricanes Jeanne and Ivan reduced the country's population by another two thousand. But the most terrible was the earthquake of 2010, during which more than a hundred thousand people died. International organizations tried to support the Haitians as much as possible and provided the country with financial and humanitarian assistance. But even here it was not all smooth sailing. The unfair and uneven (from the point of view of the local population) distribution of "humanitarian aid" led to mass riots, the victims of which were several thousand more people. The United States landed a 10,000-strong peacekeeping contingent in Haiti, consisting of units of the Marine Corps and private military companies, which first of all established control over the main strategic facilities of the island nation. The drama of the situation was added by the cholera epidemic, which broke out after a catastrophic earthquake. This prompted a blockade of Haiti and a quarantine to prevent the epidemic from spreading to the neighboring Dominican Republic and the rest of the American continent.
Haiti still struggling to recover from 2010 earthquake Today, the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, is considered the most criminal city not only in the Caribbean region, but throughout the American continent. Here, armed gangs are constantly fighting, kidnapping people for ransom, and also robbing foreigners.
Haiti's GDP per capita is less than $1,758. For the American continent, this is extremely small. In addition, inflation is rampant in Haiti, devaluing national currency dozens of times in recent years. The population of the island state is about 11 million people, of which more than one million have become refugees in America, Mexico and Canada. The unemployment rate has exceeded 50%. Haiti is recognized as the poorest country in the entire Western Hemisphere.
The poorest countries in Asia
If almost all of Africa is the poorest continent on earth, then the same cannot be said about Asia. On its territory are China, showing the highest rates of economic growth, industrialized Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and some other countries. But in Asia, as almost everywhere on Earth, there is an economic differentiation of states, in which some reach great heights in development, while others have been in extreme poverty for centuries. At the heart of the problems of the poorest Asian countries are the same:
Afghanistan
Afghanistan is the poorest country in Asia. And this situation, oddly enough, has been stable for decades. This is due to the constant war, practically without stopping on the territory of Afghanistan. A nine-year conflict with the Soviet Union, then a kind of civil war, as a result of which the orthodox Islamic movement Taliban came to power. After that, American military intervention and a long war, in fact, continues to this day. Takova modern history Afghanistan. It is the constant wars that cause the poverty of the indigenous Afghans and do not allow the country's economy to develop. For many years there has been no political stability in Afghanistan, the regions are being torn apart by local clans, each of which has at its disposal significant armed formations with extensive experience in combat operations and modern weapons. Afghanistan has no access to the sea, a developed industry, its agriculture is at the level of the century before last: a tractor in the field is a much greater curiosity than a tank on the road.
Afghans are a poor but very warlike people A significant part of the Afghan population is involved in the cultivation of narcotic raw materials and its processing. Afghanistan is by far the largest drug producer in Eurasia, drug trafficking goes to the Middle East, to Pakistan and India, as well as to the north, to Tajikistan and further to the CIS countries, including Russia. It is this factor that is the reason for the great dissatisfaction of the international community with such a state of affairs in the country.
Afghanistan has a very high infant mortality rate and an extremely unfavorable epidemiological situation. Most of the people in the country are illiterate. GDP per capita is less than one and a half thousand dollars, millions of Afghans have become refugees, having crossed the borders of neighboring Pakistan, Iran and Tajikistan.
North Korea
North Korea is considered the most closed country to the world community. Therefore, neither the UN, nor the IMF, nor the World Bank can accurately determine it. economic potential and GDP per capita. But experts agree that this figure is below one and a half thousand dollars a year.
North Korea, which emerged as a state as a result of a long war in the second half of the last century, is a country with a communist regime and authoritarian rule. Everyone remembers the recent famine in North Korea that claimed tens of thousands of lives. At the core financial problems there is a planned economy with a command style of management, huge spending on defense and the creation of new types of weapons, as well as international isolation, as a result of which there can be no question of attracting foreign investment and creating new jobs with high salary. The North Korean regime in every possible way prevents any penetration into its country, not only of foreign capital, but even of foreign citizens. Each representative of the capitalist world is initially perceived as a potential enemy and arouses suspicion. The current confrontation between North Korea and the United States in no way leads to an improvement in the situation in this country, forcing the economy to work almost exclusively on the arms race.
Huge military spending is one of the reasons for the poverty of the North Korean people Nepal
The GDP per capita in Nepal is just under $1,700. This country is recognized as developing, but at the same time it is among the poorest in Asia. The population is 29 million people. Industry is practically absent, agriculture plays a significant role, the products of which account for 60% of exports. A strong blow to the economy of Nepal was caused by a series of powerful earthquakes in the spring of 2015 (magnitude 7.8 and 7.3), as a result of which more than 8 thousand died and almost 15 thousand Nepalese and guests of the country were injured. Huge destruction also occurred, as a result of which tens of thousands of houses were wiped off the face of the earth and the entire infrastructure of a small country was practically destroyed.
Tourism plays a significant role in filling the budget of Nepal, because it is there that the highest peak of the world, Chomolungma (Everest), is located. Yes, and Nepal itself is considered the heart of Buddhism, so adherents of this religion (or teaching, as some believe) come here for spiritual experience. Nepal has been one of the poorest Asian countries for many years. One of the reasons for the deplorable situation is the irrational economic policy of the government and the primacy of the monarch in solving absolutely all issues.
Documentary video about the earthquake in Nepal
Tajikistan
Tajikistan is a former Soviet republic that has never been able to achieve a high level of economic development. GDP per capita is almost $3,000. The country is considered developing, but is among the five poorest countries in Asia. Infrastructure is poorly established in Tajikistan, and agriculture plays a significant role in the economy. Many Tajiks went to work in neighboring countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. There are many of them in Pakistan. A very negative role in the development of Tajikistan was played by the civil war, which began almost immediately after the republic gained independence and representatives of the old Soviet nomenklatura came to power. Drug trafficking from Afghanistan runs through Tajik territory, many Tajiks themselves are engaged in the cultivation of narcotic raw materials and the production of drugs. Tajikistan is very corrupt, so far the power in some regions of the country belongs not only to government bodies but also to local criminal clans.
Tajikistan is the poorest country among the former Soviet republics How is poverty in Europe?
It would seem that prosperous old Europe in the eyes of the whole world serves as a model of stability and prosperity. But not everything is so simple. It is in Europe that there is a significant stratification of countries on an economic basis. The vast majority of the most prosperous European states are members of the European Union. These are Scandinavian countries, Germany, Belgium, France and others. The poor include the new members of the European Union, which were previously part of the socialist camp, located mainly in Eastern Europe. The poverty of the population is manifested in a relatively low level of wages, social problems and a low (relative to the developed EU countries) standard of living. Of course, if you compare them with the poorest countries in Africa, then each of them will be super-rich.
Moldova
Before the collapse Soviet Union Moldova (Moldavian SSR) was part of it. Today she has become poor country Europe. Moldova is located in the southeastern part of the European continent and shares borders with Ukraine and Romania. Its population is almost three million people. The level of GDP per capita in 2017 is about $3,750. economic well-being Moldova is directly dependent on the development of the agricultural sector and the export of agricultural products. The dominant industry is the textile industry. In principle, it is these two areas that today have become the main suppliers of funds in the state budget. Almost all energy resources are supplied from abroad. There are few minerals in the country and almost no new enterprises are being built, and Moldova also has low attractiveness for Western investors. A significant part of Moldovans work abroad, which is facilitated by the visa-free entry of Moldovan citizens to the EU countries and historical proximity to Russia.
Video about life in Moldova
Kosovo
Kosovo is located on the Balkan Peninsula and is still a state not recognized by many countries. The republic appeared on the political map of the world as a result of the war in Yugoslavia, its capital is the city of Pristina, and the population speaks Serbian and Albanian. The issue of its statehood is still the subject of heated debate in neighboring Serbia and Montenegro. The constitution of Kosovo says that this republic is part of Serbia, but in fact it exists as an independent state.
The GDP per capita is about $7,400 per year. Up to 70% of Kosovo's GDP comes from the service sector. Despite today's far from brilliant situation, for ten years there has been a steady trend in the country's economic growth. Inflation does not place a heavy burden on the shoulders of the population, but a significant part of Kosovo still works abroad. On the territory of the Republic there are large deposits of minerals. Lead, cobalt, nickel, bauxite, and rare earth metals are mined in Kosovo. This small Balkan country has a developed energy sector of the economy, as well as several large textile and food industries. Over the past years, the Republic of Kosovo has received significant amounts of foreign economic assistance, which includes long-term loans the IMF, the World Bank and several other influential international financial institutions. Every year, Kosovo is increasingly considered by European investors as a promising country for capital investment.
Kosovars are very politically active Ukraine
Ukraine is in third place in terms of poverty on the European continent. Ukraine's GDP per capita is almost $7,600. The country's economy has been seriously undermined by military operations, which do not contribute to development in any way. With a population approaching 48 million, Ukraine is the largest country in terms of territory located entirely on the European continent. International experts agree that Ukraine has good prerequisites and potential for economic growth. Western organizations over the past years have provided significant financial assistance to the country, demanding radical reforms in its political and economic structure.
Today, a significant part of Ukrainians (50-60%) lives, according to UN estimates, below the poverty line. Despite this, today Ukraine is in first place in Europe in terms of the number of personnel. armed forces. The country has a well-developed agricultural sector of the economy, as well as ferrous metallurgy and woodworking industry, chemical and food industries. After the opening of a visa-free regime between Ukraine and the EU, many Ukrainians left to work in the countries of the European Union.
Ukraine is the largest country in Europe, which is located entirely on this continent Prospects for the World's Poor Countries
In order to defeat poverty, each state must also eradicate the causes of its appearance. The United Nations has announced an international program to combat poverty. It will include measures to ensure the political stability of poor states, establish peace on their territory, improve the educational level of the population, improve health care, reduce mortality and create investment attractiveness. This is precisely what the independent policy of the world's poorest countries should be aimed at.
No wonder the comic slogan "Saving the drowning is the work of the drowning themselves" has become so popular. To be honest, neither UN aid nor IMF loans will be able to lift poor countries from their knees. The essence of the state is determined by its political elite. For comparison, you can take South Korea and neighboring North Korea, South Africa and Mozambique. Countries with the same geographical location and approximately equal natural resources are in different parts of the ranking in terms of living standards. Some are at the top, others are at the very bottom….
The Global Finance publication published an annual ranking of the wealth of the countries of the world, according to which Qatar turned out to be the richest state (its GDP per capita amounted to $146,011), the Central African Republic became the poorest state (with a GDP of $639.9). Photos will demonstrate the enormous difference in the quality of life of the citizens of these two countries.
The per capita wealth rating of countries, which includes 185 states, was compiled by Global Finance based on data from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The top 10 richest countries include: Qatar, Luxembourg, Singapore, Brunei, Kuwait, Norway, UAE, Hong Kong, USA, Switzerland. Rounding out the list are Madagascar, Guinea, Eritrea, Mozambique, Nigeria, Burundi, Liberia, Malawi, Congo and the Central African Republic.
Qatar gained independence from Britain in 1971. Almost the entire territory is occupied by desert. It borders on Saudi Arabia in the south, on all other sides it is washed by the Persian Gulf (there is a maritime border with the UAE).
According to the constitution adopted on April 29, 2003, Qatar is an absolute monarchy. The head of state is Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, whose power is limited only by Sharia law. True, there is also a prime minister appointed by the emir (at the moment it is Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani). There are no political parties, trade unions in Qatar, and demonstrations are prohibited.
View of the capital of Qatar Doha from a bird's eye view. About half of the emirate's population lives in the city.
The CAR gained independence from France in 1960. Neighbors - Sudan, South Sudan, Congo, Chad, Cameroon. The Central African Republic is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Africa. Due to its remoteness from the oceans and inaccessibility, this territory remained a white spot on European maps until the 19th century.
The form of government in the CAR is a presidential republic. The head of state is Catherine Samba-Panza (interim president since 2014).
Bird's eye view of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. Population - more than 730 thousand people
According to 2013 estimates, 1.9 million people live in Qatar (of which 1.4 million are men).
Qatari residents dine in a restaurant in Doha
The population of the CAR is five million people (2012 estimate). The population is increasing by 2.1 percent annually. On average, there are 4.7 births per woman, but infant mortality rates are high: 102 per 1,000.
In such a cafe you can order breakfast at the central market of Bangui
Official currency unit country, the Qatari rial, is pegged to the US dollar at a ratio of 1 USD = 3.64 QAR.
Villagio Mall, a popular mall in Doha
The national currency is the franc of financial cooperation in Central Africa. The CFA franc BEAC is the monetary unit of six African states that are members of the Franc Monetary Area, including the Central African Republic. currency pair with the dollar it looks like this: 1 USD = 578.7 XAF.
Village market in Batalimo, CAR
Medium wage in Qatar is not the largest in the world - 1690 US dollars (2015 data). But there are also businessmen...
He didn't just come to see: the Rolls Royce showroom in Doha
Almost 90 percent of the population of the Central African Republic are tribes of the Niger-Congo group: Gbaya (33 percent) are from Nigeria, Banda (27 percent) are from Sudan (Darfur), Ngbandi (some of whom live in the Congo) and so on.
On the way to the capital of the CAR
Hamad Airport is a major transport hub, well known to travelers who fly with transfers. The airport is located in the desert, it is a real oasis. The hub continues to be built, and its area is expanding.
Doha Hamad International Airport
Bangui has a tropical savannah climate. The rainy season lasts from May to October. There are few travelers here, because there is no infrastructure necessary for recreation.
A UN plane lands at Bangui-Mpoko airport, which houses a camp for the homeless
The wealthiest people in Qatar have great respect for falconry. In Doha, you can find clinics specifically for birds of prey.
With medicine for people, everything is also very good. Life expectancy is 79 years for men and 78 years for women.
Souq Waqif falcon veterinary clinic in Doha
The average life expectancy in the Central African Republic is 48 years for men and 51 years for women. Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection - 6.3 percent (2007 estimate).
Hospital in Bangui
Oil and gas production gives Qatar more than half of GDP, 85 percent of export value and 70 percent of state budget revenue. Now the economic policy of Qatar is focused on increasing private and foreign investment in the non-energy sector.
Jewelry store in Doha
It would be easy to assume that the poorest country in the world is "out of luck" with the initial data. But the Central African Republic has significant natural resources - deposits of diamonds, uranium, gold, oil, timber and hydropower resources.
The basis of the CAR economy is agriculture and logging (55 percent of GDP). Cotton, coffee, tobacco, cassava, yams, millet, corn, bananas are cultivated. Industry provides only 20 percent of GDP (gold and diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, shoe shops).
Gold mining at the Ndassima mines in the Central African Republic
40 percent of the population of Qatar are Arabs. People from Pakistan (18%), India (the same number), Iran (10%) and other countries (14%) also live in the country. The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken.
The Pearl-Qatar artificial island and Porto Arabia port, Doha
80 percent of the population of the Central African Republic are Christians, of which more than half are Protestants (Baptists and Lutherans). Many of the Muslims, who before the start of the inter-religious conflict in March 2013 in the Central African Republic, there were about 750 thousand people (15 percent), left for neighboring states - Chad and Cameroon.
Wooden canoes cross the Ubangi River bringing people from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the CAR capital Bangui
The standard of living in different countries is different: in some it is too high, in others, on the contrary, it is very low. But how poor countries can be, many people do not even imagine. According to the UN, about 25,000 people die of hunger every day, most of them children. Nearly 1 billion people on the planet live on just $1 a day, while 2.5 billion people have a daily income of only $2.
The poorest country in the world in 2020 is located in Africa - this is the Central African Republic (CAR). It occupies a leading position in the number of AIDS cases and has a meager GDP indicator per capita - $542.
Within the United Nations, poor countries are referred to as "least developed countries". Obtaining the status of an LDC gives some privileges: technical assistance is provided to states, financial assistance for preferential terms, market access. To be included in the list backward countries, GDP per capita should be $750.
In addition to GDP, indicators such as nutrition, health, education, and literacy of the population are taken into account. In 1971, the list of LDCs included 24 countries, in 2011 the number of poor countries increased to 48. To get out of this dismal list, it is necessary to increase the GDP indicator to $ 900. Only ten states managed to do this, and they were included in the list of developing countries.
It would seem that what prevents the inhabitants of poor countries from improving their living conditions? In most cases, the cause of the troubles of these states are civil and foreign wars, climatic conditions, corruption, external debts, low level of medicine and education. The poorest countries in the world are in dire need of help to improve their living standards even a little.
10 poorest countries in the world 2019-2020
In total, there are 48 poorest countries in the world, while the vast majority in this list are poor countries in Africa: residents of 33 states live below the extreme poverty line. 14 poor countries are in Asia and Oceania and one country, Haiti, is in Latin America.
Based on the data of the International Monetary Fund on the amount of GDP per capita at PPP (this characteristic is considered the most accurate for determining the development of the economy) from 2019, the 10 poorest countries in the world are distinguished:
10th place - Togolese Republic, GDP - $1084
The state, which was once a French colony, is located in West Africa. The basis of the economy is crop production and the extraction of marble and phosphorites for export. The tsetse fly lives in the country, so animal husbandry is poorly developed.
There are not enough medical institutions and doctors in the republic. The incidence of tuberculosis, malaria, and fever is high. Every year the number of AIDS patients is growing rapidly - 3.5% of the population is infected with this terrible disease. More than 35% of the inhabitants live in poverty and destitution.
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Despite this, Togo has a high birth rate. Every woman has at least 4 children. By law, a man is allowed to have 4 wives. If a Togolese was too kind to a woman, gave her compliments, then he is obliged to marry her. So gallant men contain 4 wives and at least 16 children.
9th place - Madagascar, GDP - $ 970
A state located on a unique island, which is the 4th largest on the planet with a population of more than 20 million people, although it belongs to developing countries, nevertheless included in the list of poor countries in the world.
The main sectors of the economy are animal husbandry, fishing and the cultivation of spices for export. Due to locust invasions, farmers suffer significant losses almost every year.
Madagascar is the largest vanilla producer in the world. There is a version that the transition of the Coca-Cola company from natural vanilla to synthetic has seriously hit the economy of the island.
Tourism is growing in Madagascar. About 10,000 species of unique animals and plants live on the island. Only here you can see lemurs, a variety of chameleons that feel at ease in the parks.
Most of them are under the threat of extinction due to the destruction of their natural habitat.
The standard of living in the country is quite low. In many villages there is neither electricity nor water supply, and TVs and computers are out of the question. The average woman has at least 5 children. There is a plague outbreak on the island. Malaria is prevalent along the east coast.8th place - Republic of Malawi, GDP - $879
More than half of the population of the country, located in East Africa, lives in poverty and cannot read. The main economic sector is agriculture. Tobacco, sugar, tea, and peanuts are grown for export. There are deposits of minerals: uranium, coal and bauxite, but they are practically not being developed.
The health care situation is dire. There is one doctor for every 17,000 people. Almost every child under the age of 5 is underweight. In 2015, more than 1.6 million people were infected with AIDS.
Out of 1000 babies born, 84 babies die. Unsanitary conditions, lack of food, miserable living conditions do not stop the women of Malawi. Each has at least 5-6 children.
7th place - Republic of Niger, GDP - $829
Niger, in which scorching heat always reigns, consistently falls into the top of the poorest countries. Very often it is confused with Nigeria, but it is absolutely different countries. The economy depends on the help of other states.
The main source of income is agriculture, which employs 90% of the population. Only 3% of the land is cultivated, the remaining soils are not suitable. In 1958, uranium deposits were discovered, Niger ranked 2nd in terms of mining. The uranium crisis in the 1980s had a negative impact on the country's uranium industry.
The country does not railways only 28% can read and write. Less than 25% of children attend schools. Half of the population suffers from chronic malnutrition. Lack of drinking water causes a surge in infectious diseases. Almost 1% of the population is HIV-infected.
The country ranks 3rd in terms of infant mortality. 115 out of 1000 babies die. Niger is distinguished by the most high level fertility. A woman gives birth 7-8 times.
6th place - Zimbabwe, GDP - $788
The reason for the disasters of the African state was land reform. In January 2009, the country broke the world inflation record ─ 321,000,000%. In the course were denominations of 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollars. With this money, you could buy several eggs. Now these banknotes are sold to collectors and tourists.
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Zimbabwe has the highest unemployment rate at 94%. 70% of the population lives in poverty. In addition to economic problems in the country, life expectancy has significantly decreased, for women up to 47 years, for men up to 48 years. The cause of early death is AIDS.
5th place - Eritrea, GDP - $707
Eritrea occupies the 5th position. The state is located on the coast of the Red Sea. For a long time the country was an Italian colony, in the 50s of the last century it was annexed to Ethiopia.
The War of Independence lasted over 30 years. As a result of hostilities, the economy was completely destroyed.
In ancient times, this territory was called nothing more than the "Land of the Gods". Eritrea could be a worthy competitor to Egypt and Greece, because it has a huge potential for tourism development: the unique nature and underwater world of the Red Sea, historical monuments, catacomb cities. Alas, as a result of hostilities, a significant part of the historical heritage was destroyed.
About 80% of the population is involved in agriculture, livestock breeding and fishing. There is an acute shortage of clean fresh water in the country, which is why people are prone to intestinal infections. Another big problem in the country is illiteracy: only 60% of the population can read and write.
4th place - Liberia, GDP ─ 703 $
Two civil wars, which lasted a total of 10 years, claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and practically destroyed the country's economy. According to statistics, about 90% of Liberians live on $1.3 a day.
Unemployment is rampant in the country. One source of income is tolls on merchant ships for the use of the Liberian flag. Previously, there was an export of coffee, timber, diamonds.
3rd place - Democratic Republic of the Congo, GDP - $648
Previously, the state was known as Zaire, since the Republic of the Congo is located in the neighborhood, these two countries are often confused. In 2012, according to the DRC IMF, the Congo was the poorest country in the world.
Much remains the same in 2020. During the hostilities in the Congo, 5.4 million people died. The armies of 7 different states participated in the war, and the death toll was sometimes more than 40,000 people a day.
Almost 70% of the population suffers from hunger. Congo is perhaps one of the few remaining places on Earth where cannibal tribes exist. Eating people is one of the ways to survive in the country. 71 million people live in the state, 4.1% are infected with HIV. locals They believe that you can be cured of an illness if you spend the night with a virgin.
Therefore, the Congo is considered the most dangerous place in the world for women: the country occupies a leading position in the number of rapes.
2nd place - Burundi, GDP - $642
We can say that this is the most impoverished country. The main reason for the plight is constant wars. 50% of the territory is occupied by arable land and 36% is occupied by pastures. The main export products are coffee and tea. The main part of the population is involved in agriculture, the industry is very poorly developed.
More than half of Burundians live in poverty. Children are underweight. Due to the lack of medicines and medical staff, outbreaks of cholera and meningitis periodically occur, and death is a frequent occurrence. There is only one university in the country, more than half of the population is not literate.
There are no railways in Burundi, there are almost no paved roads, only 20,000 cars. Mobile phone─ it is a luxury. Out of 1,000 residents, only 20 people have a cell phone, and only 5 are happy owners of a computer.