What is the poorest country in the world. The poorest countries in the world with an incredibly low standard of living (10 photos). Haiti and Equatorial Guinea

Have you ever tried to figure out which are the poorest countries in the world?

The wealth or poverty of a nation can be measured in several ways, but the most popular method is to classify them by gross domestic product (GDP), by parity purchasing power(PPP) per capita. Basically, this refers to the value of all goods and services that are produced by a particular country in a particular year, divided by the average population of the country for the same year. And this is what we use to build our list. The less a country's GDP per capita, the poorer it is, and vice versa.

10 poorest countries in the world

There are currently 195 countries in the world. Today we're going to find out which ones are the poorest. This list was presented by the International Monetary Fund in 2017 and all figures are in Giri-Khamis dollars, which is also known as the international dollar.

So, here are the 10 poorest countries in the world.

1. Comoros

Let's start our list at number 10 in the Comoros, where GDP per capita is $ 1,560.

Comoros is the 171st largest country in the world and 159th most populous country in the world. Moroni is the capital of this country. This relatively new African country gained independence from France in 1975.

The volcanic archipelago, made up of three large and numerous other small islands, has a diverse culture and history as it was formed at the crossroads of different civilizations.

Comoros is the world's largest producer of ylang-ylang. In addition, it is also the second largest vanilla producer in the world.

The most important attractions in the Comoros are the Moheli Marine Park, Mount Kartala, the National Center for Documentation and Scientific Research, the Kartal Forest, the Palais Royal de la Grande Comoros and others.

1. Madagascar

This African nation, which gained independence from France in 1960, is the 46th largest and 51st most populous country in the world. Antananarivo is its capital.

Madagascar is home to a variety of wildlife, nearly half of the world's chameleons, 90% of lemurs and Madagascar's famous hissing cockroaches.

Madagascar was once a pirate's paradise, largely due to its secluded coves and the absence of European invaders for centuries.

Attractions in Madagascar include Baobab Avenue, Amber Mountain National Park, Isalo National Park, Ranomafana National Park and others.

1. Eritrea

Ranked 8th on our list of the 10 poorest countries in the world, Eritrea was found to have a GDP per capita of $ 1,434.

Eritrea is the 99th largest and 118th most populous country in the world. The capital is Asmara.

After decades of fighting for its independence, Eritrea finally got it in 1993. About 40% of her freedom fighters are women. The Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) has the most large percentage women than any other liberation army in the world.

It is home to some of the rarest coral species on the planet.

All local media in this African country are state owned. Naturally, Eritrea was named the country with the lowest press freedom in the global press freedom index. In addition, Human Rights Watch has characterized the country's human rights as one of the worst in the world.

Famous landmarks of Eritrea: National Museum of Eritrea, Cinema Impero, Adulis, Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Asmara and others.

1. Mozambique

Number 7 on our list is Mozambique, with a per capita GDP of $ 1,266.

As the 35th largest and 48th most populous country in the world, Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975. However, after recognition, it was overshadowed by an intense civil war from 1977 to 1992. And only since 1994 has it become a stable presidential republic.

The capital is the city of Maputo. Despite the fact that this African nation is currently poor, experts predict that it will become one of the fastest growing countries in the world.

The wildlife of Mozambique is one of the richest and most diverse on earth. Its famous landmarks include Gorongosa National Park, Lake Malawi, Mozambique Island, Quirimbas Islands and others.

1. Malawi

At number 6 on our list is Malawi, with a GDP per capita of US $ 1,172.

It is the 98th largest and 64th most populous country in the world. Malawi gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964.

A huge range of cultural and religious beliefs can be seen in the country due to the diverse population of natives, Europeans and Asians.

One of its lakes, Lake Malawi, is home to more fish species than any other lake on earth. The clear sky above the lake also provides superb stargazing. This lake also covers more than one fifth of the total area of ​​the country.

The World Happiness Report 2015-2017 ranked Malawi as the 10th most unhappy country in the world. The high prevalence of HIV / AIDS in the country has darkened its economy.

Attractions in this African country include Livonde National Park, Nyika National Park, Lake Malawi National Park, Rock Art Chongoni and others.

1. Niger

The top five on the list of the 10 poorest countries in the world includes Niger with a GDP per capita of $ 1,153.

Niger gained independence from France in 1960. Niamey is the capital of this African country. It is the 21st largest and 57th most populous country in the world.

Niger has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. The country is landlocked and nearly 80% of the land is arid.

The Niger River, one of the largest rivers in the world, is also one of the cleanest rivers in the world.

Niger is also home to the world's largest uranium deposits.

Famous landmarks include Agadez Mosque, Niamey Grand Mosque, Lake Chad, National nature reserve Eyre and Tenere.

1. Liberia

In fourth place on our list is Liberia, with a per capita GDP of $ 867.

Liberia is the first African republic to declare its independence, which it did in 1847. It is also the first and oldest modern republic in Africa. The country mainly stems from the settlement of the American Colonization Society (ACS), which believed that more freedom for blacks could be achieved in Africa than in the United States.

It is the 102nd largest and 125th most populous nation in the world. Monrovia is the capital of Liberia.

Despite the fact that the country is only 170 years old, the average age of citizens is one of the youngest in the world - 17.9 years. Has the second largest merchant shipping fleet in the world.

The 24th President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who served from 2006 to 2018, is the first female president in Africa.

The World Happiness Report 2015-2017 ranked Malawi as the eighth most miserable country in the world. Almost 85% of its population lives below the international poverty line. A military coup in the 1980s and the recent Ebola epidemic have jeopardized the country's economic position.

Important landmarks in Liberia include Sapo National Park, National Museum of Liberia, Mount Nimba Strict Conservation Area, Richard Molard and others.

1. Burundi

Burundi is among the three poorest countries in the world with a GDP per capita of $ 808.

Burundi is the 143rd largest and 85th most populous country in the world. Bujumbura is the capital. Received independence from Belgium in 1962.

The vast majority of its population lives in countryside and only 13% live in urban. Human trafficking and child labor are widespread in the country.

The World Happiness Report 2015-2017 ranked Malawi as the most unhappy country in the world.

Among its famous attractions are the Livingston-Stanley Monument, Lake Tanganyika, Rusizi National Park, Kibira National Park and others.

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo

Number 2 on our list is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a per capita GDP of $ 785.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the 11th largest and 17th most populous country in the world. Received independence from Belgium in 1960. Kinshasa is the capital.

There are more than 1,130 bird species on the territory of the state, more than in any other African country.

Congo is known for recruiting children into its army. Only 10% of its population has access to electricity, and only 1.8% of its roads are paved. On the other hand, it is one of the richest natural resources countries of the world, among which there is a lot of tin, gold, tungsten.

Witchcraft is widespread in the country, and children are often accused, often beaten, killed or abandoned in the streets.

The sights of this African nation are Lake Kivu, Mount Nyiragongo, Virunga National Park, Lake Tanganyika and others.

1. Central African Republic

The poorest country in the world today is the Central African Republic, with a per capita GDP of $ 681.

It is the 44th largest nation in the world and 123rd most populous nation in the world. Bangui serves as the capital. The republic gained independence from France in 1960.

The country was named the most unhealthy country and was rated as the worst country for young people to live in.

However, the Central African Republic is home to many endemic species such as the skink, the Sangha forest robin, the Sternfeld river frog, the Ubangui mouse and others.

The World Happiness Report 2015-2017 ranked Malawi as the second most unhappy country in the world. The country also has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world, with only 36.8% of its population able to read.

The sights of this African nation are the Nuabale-Ndoki National Park, the Janga-Sangha Special Reserve, the Manovo-Gunda St. Floris National Park and others.

So, as you can see, the 10 poorest countries in the world are all from Africa. No Asian, European, North American, South American or Australian country is even located near it. We hope that these countries will receive assistance from various international organizations. And we must help them in every possible way on their path to development. After all, creation a better world should be an idea for everyone.

There is no common position in the economy of states in the world. In some countries, people live richer, in others poorer, but this difference is not too striking until you compare the richest with the poorest.

In order to better trace the patterns, let's look at ten countries from each of the poles of wealth. If speak about the poorest states, then tenth place will take Togolese Republic, which was once a French colony. The situation is somewhat worse in Madagascar, which is nevertheless ranked among the developing countries. On the eighth line of the anti-rating is the Republic of Malawi, it stands out for the fact that, having significant reserves of minerals, it does not develop them at all. However, Malawi has a small number of areas suitable for agriculture, therefore there are many hungry people.

In seventh position is the Republic of Niger, in which the lack of food and water has created a situation in which a large number of citizens suffer from hunger. In Zimbabwe, which came in at sixth place, the problem is somewhat different - unemployment on a catastrophic scale. The number of citizens not employed in labor activity is 94%. Eritrea, Ethiopia's neighbor, is in fifth place. Its economy fell into complete decline after the civil war and still cannot return to normal levels.

The fourth poorest country in the world is Liberia, which suffered for the same reason as Eritrea. According to statistics, its residents "live" on $ 1.3 per day. However, they do not practice cannibalism, as the starving people do in Democratic Republic of the Congo(formerly called Zaire), which opens up the three countries with the worst living standards. The second place belongs to the state of Burundi. The country is actively engaged in agriculture, but is not able to provide food for the entire population. At the same time, a number of European companies extract minerals and export them abroad.

And the country with the most distressing state - Central African Republic... There is only $ 500 per capita in annual GDP. At the same time, the CAR has the richest deposits of diamonds, oil, uranium and gold. And with all this, the country remains the poorest in the world.

What is the reason for this situation in these countries and what do they have in common? The first thing that catches your eye is the African states. Wars are the first problem the locals face. For many, it is much easier to visit neighbors and select the necessary resources than to produce them yourself.

Failure to organize industrial production or develop technologies Agriculture to the point at which residents stop starving, stems from a low level of education. Often, residents of these countries have not even completed primary school.

Now you need to imagine the richest countries in the world to reveal some common reasons that led them to prosperity. Is it really possible to argue that it's all about education? Sweden is in tenth place on the list of the richest countries. For comparison, the level of GDP per person is $ 37.7 thousand, which is 70 times higher than that in the CAR. Sweden has a long history of peaceful life, during which it has developed a banking system and a brand of its watches. Switzerland is now synonymous with reliability. Among European countries, it is the second in terms of technology development.

In ninth place is Austria, and in eighth - the Netherlands. Both states have large deposits of minerals and are successfully developing them. Tourism is a separate item of their income. At the same time, the Netherlands has its own gas reserves, which is becoming key point, which led to the fact that the GDP per person is more by $ 1.3 thousand and is $ 40.7 thousand.

Kuwait is in seventh place, and the United States is in sixth. Both countries have large reserves of petroleum products, but Kuwait has practically no products that it could export and supports its existence with the help of black gold alone. The fifth richest countries in the world are United United Arab Emirates ... Oil helped the seven monarchies quickly increase their prosperity, but they did not stop there and began to actively develop business segments and equip tourist destinations. For both of these indicators, the UAE has achieved very great success, which made them one of the leaders in terms of living standards in the world.

However, the UAE managed to bypass Ireland, the number of tourists in which exceeds the state's own population by almost 1.5 times. However, although this is a very important area of ​​the Irish economy, it is still not the main one. Not having a large number of minerals, the country has significantly developed the sphere of animal husbandry. As for production, here are located the enterprises of the largest electronics manufacturers who came to the country from the United States. Large investments have led to the fact that the living standards of residents have increased significantly. Ireland concentrated its own production in the field of medicine.

The third place is occupied by the state, which imports practically all the necessary goods. How do they manage to keep so high level life? Given this fact, the country's authorities have canceled import duties on all products, except for 4: alcohol, tobacco, cars and oil products. As for other taxes, they are also extremely small. As a result, this country began to be perceived by investors very positively, and foreign capital flowed there as an endless river. Today in Singapore, research is being conducted on the most advanced areas of the computer industry and biotechnology.

Luxembourg is in second place, and Qatar is in first. What is noteworthy, in Luxembourg, taxes have a complex structure and remove a significant part of the income of companies, while in Qatar they are only 10% for any type of activity. This is due to the fact that in the European state the main income is banking, which attracts investors due to the fact that the state is an offshore zone. Whereas Qatar makes very good money on imports of oil, but its tax policy attracted foreign capital, which is now developing industry in the country.

Another distinctive feature of leaders is their small population. It is much easier to regulate the economy in small areas than in huge areas, so it can be argued that the division economic zone one state to several smaller ones, with the possibility of adaptive regulation “on the ground” can bring positive results.

As you can see, in many cases the difference between rich and poor states in the initial conditions is quite small. Even the richest countries do not own so many resources, but they have managed to properly dispose of what they have. First of all - to become profitable partners. As for the poor countries, the recipe for getting out of the economic hole is obvious. On the development of technologies on their own, they can spend an unacceptably long time, but governments just need to provide a favorable economic climate for foreign investors and the situation will change in an instant. Africa has a huge number of places that are already attracting tourists and many of the now impoverished states are able to create new ones. Low rate taxes and a small economic zone - this is the recipe for prosperity in today's world.

Alexey Efedorov

To identify the richest and poorest countries in the world, 24/7 Wall St. compared data on GNI from the World Bank.

The rating was compiled based on data such as GNI per capita, GDP, GDP growth, employment rate, life expectancy, literacy, Internet access, volume of exports and imports, government spending, and in addition, many other data. In addition, this ranking also took into account the corruption index from Transparency International.

Nearly all of the poorest countries in the world are in sub-Saharan Africa. These countries are mired in political and military conflicts. In addition, their economies are largely tied to agriculture and mining in exchange for expensive essential goods. Many countries are highly dependent on foreign aid, and this dependence undermines the possibility of economic development.

However, not everything is so simple with these countries. For example, Iran has the third largest oil reserves in the world, but nevertheless it does not belong to one of the richest countries in the world. And here South Korea, in which there are practically no resources, has become one of the relatively wealthy countries today.

In addition, poor countries tend to have high unemployment rates, low literacy rates, and low internet access.

So, below is a list of the 25 poorest countries in the world.

25 South Sudan GNI per capita: $ 2,000

2014 GDP: $ 13.1 billion

Population: 11 911 184

The last civil war in South Sudan ended in August when the country's president signed a peace deal with the rebel leader. The country has been in a state of military conflict since 2013.

A conflict like this is not new for a country that gained independence in 2011. Civil wars, political conflicts, uprisings constantly destabilize the economy and politics of the country.

It is conflicts that are the main reason that more than half of the country's population lives below the poverty level, and GNI per capita in the country is only $ 2,000, which is one of the lowest rates in the world. Corruption is also a concern. In terms of corruption, South Sudan ranks fifth in the world.

24. Afghanistan GNI per capita: $ 1,960

2014 GDP: $ 20.8 billion

Population: 31 627 506

Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world. The literacy rate in the country is just over 30%, and more than a third of the population lives below the poverty line.

In addition, Afghan citizens live for almost 61 years, which is 10 years below the world average.

Weak socioeconomic indicators are mainly associated with instability. Despite the fact that the country has a formal government supported by the United States, the Taliban group controls a significant part of the country. Official laws do not actually work in these territories.

In addition, there is a very high level of corruption - Afghanistan occupies one of the highest places in the corruption index in the world.

23. Benin GNI per capita: $ 1,850

2014 GDP: $ 8.7 billion

Population: 10 598 482

Life expectancy: 59.3 years

Benin, located in West Africa, is one example of a developing country striving to enter and compete in global markets.

Together with Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali, Benin exports about 8% of the world's cotton - a fairly large share to have an impact on the global cotton market.

However, more and more developed countries such as the United States are subsidizing the cotton industry, thereby boosting cotton production around the world and driving down cotton prices.

This leaves all four of these countries, the so-called C-4 countries, poor. However, education can become in a good way for Benin to get out of the ranking of the poorest countries. Almost 95% of children attend school, which is much higher than in other countries in southern Africa.

22.Sierra Leone GNI per capita: $ 1,800

2014 GDP: $ 4.9 billion

Population: 6 315 627

Life expectancy: 45.6 years

After the country gained independence from Britain in 1951, Sierra Leone hoped that natural resources would bring it economic prosperity.

Since then, the country has experienced 13 military coups and a long civil war, which negatively affected its economic development.

Today, more than half of the country's population lives below the poverty line. In addition, the country is highly dependent on foreign aid, as it receives almost 10% of its GDP from abroad.

In 2012, the country's government drew up a 50-year development plan that outlined priorities such as education and infrastructure development, not just mining.

21. Uganda GNI per capita: $ 1,740

2014 GDP: $ 26.3 billion

Population: 37 782 971

Life expectancy: 59.2 years

Uganda's economic outlook has improved over the past few years, according to data from the African Development Bank, which notes growth in GDP and life expectancy, as well as declines in poverty and child mortality.

In fact, since 2009, life expectancy in Uganda has increased by three years to 59.2 years. nevertheless, despite improvements, Uganda remains one of the poorest countries.

20. Haiti GNI per capita: $ 1,730

2014 GDP: $ 8.7 billion

Population: 10,572,029

Life expectancy: 63.1 years

Once it was one of the richest countries in the New World, but now it is the most poor country Western Hemisphere. As with other countries, Haitian history has seen many internal conflicts and corrupt regimes.

In addition, the 20-year occupation of the United States before the start of World War II, the HIV crisis, and the 2010 earthquake - all these factors prevented the country from establishing a stable economic situation. Today, almost 60% of the country's population lives below the poverty line, and the literacy rate is below 60%.

19. Burkina Faso GNI per capita: $ 1,650

2014 GDP: $ 12.5 billion

Population: 17 589 198

Life expectancy: 56.3 years

The country's name means “land of incorruptible people,” and Burkina Faso does show lower rates of corruption than other African countries.

However, it cannot be said that the country is completely free from corruption - it ranks 50th out of 175 countries in the ranking of corrupt countries.

Life expectancy in Burkina Faso is in line with the regional average. The literacy rate in the country is extremely low - only 28.7%, which is less than the regional average. In addition, less than 10% of the country's residents have access to the Internet.

18.Rwanda GNI per capita: $ 1,630

2014 GDP: $ 7.9 billion

Population: 11 341 544

Life expectancy: 64.0 years

Since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, the country's political and economic gains have been difficult.

For several years, Rwanda's GDP grew by 7%, resulting in more than 1 million people in the country, or almost 9% of the population, no longer living below the poverty line. However, the country's poverty rate is still very high - 44.9%.

President Paul Kagame ruled the country for 15 years. he managed to significantly improve the lives of his citizens - he increased access to health services, to free education, and in addition, during the years of his rule, the infrastructure in the country improved.

17. Zimbabwe GNI per capita: $ 1,630

2014 GDP: $ 13.7 billion

Population: 15,245,855

Life expectancy: 59.8 years

More than 70% of Zimbabwe's population lives below the poverty line, the third highest rate of any country.

From 2009 to 2012, the country's GDP grew by 11% per year, mainly due to the development of the agricultural and mining sector.

Since then, annual GDP growth has dropped to 3.2%. In spite of the economic growth during recent years, GNI per capita in Zimbabwe is below the regional average.

16.Gambia GNI per capita: $ 1,560

2014 GDP: $ 0.8 billion

Population: 1 928 201

Life expectancy: 58.8 years

The Gambia has been a fairly stable country since its president, Yaya Jammeh, came to power in a bloody 1994 coup.

In comparison, during this period, many other African countries experienced a period of political instability and armed conflict.

However, political stability in The Gambia has not led to economic prosperity. The Gambia exports peanuts, which form the basis of its exports and the economy in general.

In addition, the country is highly dependent on foreign aid, which in 2013 amounted to 12% of GDP. This is one of the highest rates in the world.

15. Mali GNI per capita: $ 1,530

2014 GDP: $ 12.1 billion

Population: 17 086 022

Life expectancy: 55.0 years

Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world and region. It is one of Africa's largest cotton producers, accounting for over half of the country's exports.

To protect its main source of income, Mali opposed subsidies given to cotton growers in more developed countries such as the United States.

Mali is also dependent on foreign aid, which accounts for 12.5% ​​of the country's GDP - one of the highest in the world.

14.Eritrea GNI per capita: $ 1,520

2014 GDP: $ 3.9 billion

Population: 5 110 444

Life expectancy: 62.8 years

Eritrea has suffered from armed conflict and instability over the past 30 years. As a result, it is one of the poorest countries in the world.

In addition, the Eritrean government is overly secretive, which severely limits UN assistance.

Foreign aid accounts for only 2.4% of the country's GDP, the lowest among the world's poorest countries.

In addition, Eritrea has a very poor infrastructure. Less than 1 in 100 Eritreans have access to the internet - also one of the lowest in the world.

13. Comoros GNI per capita: $ 1,490

2014 GDP: $ 0.6 billion

Population: 769 991

Life expectancy: 60.9 years

In the Comoros, located east of Africa and north of Madagascar, French and Arabic are spoken.

It is one of the poorest countries in the world, where the main sectors of the economy are agriculture and fisheries.

Although the country gained independence from France in 1975, its economy remains dependent on foreign aid from France, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

12. Ethiopia GNI per capita: $ 1,490

2014 GDP: $ 54.8 billion

Population: 96 958 732

Life expectancy: 63.6 years

Unlike other poorest countries in the world, Ethiopia has been independent throughout its existence.

Nevertheless, internal conflicts and armed attempts to invade neighboring Eritrea have put Ethiopia among the poorest countries in the world with high levels of poverty, hunger and low levels of health care and education.

Nonetheless, Ethiopia's economy is one of the fastest growing in the world. Its economy is growing at 9.9% per year, the fourth highest in the world.

11. Madagascar GNI per capita: $ 1,400

2014 GDP: $ 10.6 billion

Population: 23,571,713

Life expectancy: 64.7 years

More than 23 million people live here, and almost 75.3% - or more than 17 million - live below the poverty line. This country has the second highest poverty rate in the world.

Like other countries in the region, Madagascar has experienced many armed conflicts and coups, and in addition, the country's economy suffers from high levels of corruption.

Since the last coup in 2009, many international organizations have severed their ties with the country.

Nevertheless, the country's government adopted a new constitution in 2010, and elections were held in the country in 2014 - after these events, foreign investors may come to the country.

10. Guinea-Bissau GNI per capita: $ 1,380

2014 GDP: $ 1.0 billion

Population: 1,800,513

Life expectancy: 54.3 years

Like other poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau's economy depends on agriculture. The country is the seventh largest exporter of coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews - these products account for virtually all of the country's exports.

In addition, the corrupt authorities of Guinea-Bissau helped establish a center for the illegal transport of cocaine from Latin America to Europe in the country.

According to Transparency International, Guinea-Bissau is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Its inhabitants are among the sickest on the planet, and life expectancy is only 54 years, which is less than the regional average.

9. Togo GNI per capita: $ 1,290

2014 GDP: $ 4.5 billion

Population: 7 115 163

Life expectancy: 56.5 years

After the 2005 elections, the level of corruption in the country remained at a very high level. And in the ranking of Transparency International, the country ranks highest in terms of corruption. Nevertheless, Togo receives assistance from international organizations.

8. Mozambique GNI per capita: $ 1,140

2014 GDP: $ 16.4 billion

Population: 27 216 276

Life expectancy: 50.2 years

Despite the fact that the country has been stable since 1992, when a peace agreement was signed that ended the civil war in the country, Mozambique has never achieved significant economic development.

According to the World Bank, almost 55% of Mozambicans live below the poverty line, one of the highest rates in the world.

As with other poorest countries, Mozambique has a low level of health care and a high rate of infection of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.

Malaria is one of the most common diseases and causes many deaths each year. The infant mortality rate in the country is 35%, and the death rate in the country as a whole is 29%.

7. Guinea GNI per capita: $ 1,120

2014 GDP: $ 6.6 billion

Population: 12,275,527

Life expectancy: 56.1 years

Guinea has two-thirds of the world's bauxite reserves. Moreover, this country is large deposit iron ore, gold and diamonds.

Despite the abundance of natural resources, corruption, political instability and limited rights to real estate, the majority of Guinea's population lives below the poverty line.

Like most other poor countries, agriculture is the main sector of the economy. In fact, 70% of Guinea's population works on farms, but generates less than 20% of GDP.

6.Niger GNI per capita: $ 920

2014 GDP: $ 8.2 billion

Population: 19 113 728

Life expectancy: 58.4 years

Almost half of Niger's population lives below the poverty line. Niger experienced political instability within the country, which significantly hampered the country's economic development.

Niger's imports are almost double its exports. In addition, foreign aid to the country amounts to 10.1% of GDP. In addition, the country has one of the lowest living standards in the world. Only 15.5% of the country's inhabitants can read.

5. Malawi GNI per capita: $ 790

2014 GDP: $ 4.3 billion

Population: 16 695 253

Life expectancy: 55.2 years

Most of the population of this country lives below the poverty line. However, the country does not receive foreign aid from other countries.

In 2014, international donors withdrew nearly $ 150 million in aid from state budget Malawi, noting that as a result of corruption, at least $ 30 million has disappeared from the budget. If aid is not resumed, the country may face bankruptcy.

4. Burundi GNI per capita: $ 770

2014 GDP: $ 3.1 billion

Population: 10 816 860

Life expectancy: 54.1 years

Since 1994, the country has been experiencing a series of internal armed conflicts that impede economic development and also lead to a decrease in the standard of living of the country's population.

More than a fifth of GDP is foreign aid to the country. The inhabitants of the country live on average for 54 years, and 66.9% live below the poverty line.

3. Liberia GNI per capita: $ 700

2014 GDP: $ 2.0 billion

Population: 4 396 554

Life expectancy: 60.5 years

Many have heard of this country in the context of the Ebola epidemic that hit African countries in 2014.

Perhaps as a result of this epidemic, more than 63% of Liberians live below the poverty line, and only 37.7% of children are in school, both of which are among the lowest in the world.

GDP growth in 2014 was 0.5%, but the African Development Bank expects GDP growth to be 3.8% in 2015, as business activity is recovering after the victory over Ebola in the country was announced.

2. Democratic Republic of the Congo GNI per capita: $ 650

2014 GDP: $ 33.0 billion

Population: 74,877,030

Life expectancy: 49.9 years

Since the 1960s, the country has experienced very difficult times, during which armed conflicts and clashes have slowed down economic development.

From 1965 to 1997, the Congo was ruled by Joseph Mobutu, who changed the name of the country to Zaire, nationalized foreign companies, and also amassed nearly $ 5 billion by plundering the country's natural resources.

In the late 1990s, war broke out in the country. By 2001, an estimated 2.5 million people had died in the war.

According to the UN, over 500,000 Congolese citizens have refugee status.

1. Central African Republic GNI per capita: $ 600

2014 GDP: $ 1.8 billion

Population: 4,804,316

Life expectancy: 50.1 years

The poorest country is the Central African Republic, with a poverty rate of 62%. However, not all residents of the country live below the poverty line.

According to the Gini Index, which measures the level of inequality in the distribution of wealth in a country, the country is ranked fifth in terms of inequality in the world.

Life expectancy in the country is only 50 years, the same life expectancy was in the United States in 1901.

The last armed coup in the country took place in 2013.

The greatest scientific, technical and resource opportunities have not led humanity to economic equality and stability. V modern world there are dozens of states where the population lives in extreme poverty, every year thousands of people starve to death, and most of them are children. The overwhelming majority of countries with a disastrous socio-economic situation are located on the African continent. Next, we present the poorest countries in the world 2018 - top 10.

1. Somalia

The list of the poorest countries on the planet is opened by the Federal Republic of Somalia. The state is located in the very east of Africa, on an area of ​​737.6 thousand square meters. km. More than 14 million people live on this territory, most of them lead a nomadic lifestyle. The country's economy is considered one of the most underdeveloped in the world. The main sector in it is agriculture - every year Somalia sends hundreds of thousands of livestock to the markets of the Arabian Peninsula, but this still does not meet the needs of local residents who have to systematically starve. Somalia has a developed criminal and extremist activity, which is why this country is considered not only one of the poorest, but also one of the most dangerous for tourists in the world.

2. Central African Republic

The Central African Republic is one of the poorest countries in the world, and this despite the fact that the country has impressive reserves of diamonds, gold, oil, uranium, and its forests are full of valuable wood species. Economic development has reached a dead end due to endless military conflicts and the heyday of crime. The Central African Republic is considered sparsely populated - on the territory of 622.9 thousand square meters. km is home to only 5 million people. The population is mired in unsanitary conditions, due to which various kinds of infections regularly break out. The average life expectancy in the CAR is 49-50 years.

3. Democratic Republic of the Congo

The 3rd line in the ranking of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries in the world in 2018 is occupied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This African country, with an area of ​​2344.8 thousand square meters. km and with a population of 70 million people, is one of the largest in the entire globe. The DRC has virtually unlimited resources of water, forests and minerals, but it is considered the poorest in the world. The reason for the underdeveloped economy and instability in it is the incessant military clashes that took away millions of human lives... On average, DRC residents live to be 48 years old. The health care system in the country is not developed, medical services are not available to many, and therefore, mass diseases of malaria and fever are frequent. People are starving - almost half of the inhabitants eat only once a day. Cannibalism is widespread in some provinces.

4. Burundi

Burundi is among the poorest countries. This is a small state with an area of ​​27.8 thousand square meters. km is located in the east of Africa and is ranked among the most densely populated countries of the continent - more than 10.5 million people live on its territory. Its economy is based primarily on agriculture, with tea, coffee and cotton being the main exports. In the depths of Burundi there are gold, nickel, uranium, tin ore, but the degree of their development is very low. Almost 80% of residents can barely make ends meet. The situation is aggravated by the number of HIV-infected - in terms of the number of cases, Burundi is one of the first in the world. There are no medical institutions in the country, and not everyone can use medical help. Burundians live on average up to 48 years.

5. Liberia

Liberia ranks 5th in the ranking of the poorest countries in the world. This is the oldest state in West Africa, stretching along the Atlantic coast, covers an area of ​​111.3 thousand square meters. km. Bloody civil wars finally finished off its economy and destroyed the social foundations of society. Liberia has 4.5 million people, and two thirds of them are illiterate: they do not know English, which is recognized as the state language, and speak the local unwritten languages. Rural population professes traditional beliefs and sacrifices his fellow citizens during services. A distinctive feature of the majority of Liberians is their reluctance to work - they are accustomed to constant humanitarian aid, do not seek to do something, and therefore live in complete unsanitary conditions and poverty. This terrifying picture is complemented by an impressive crime rate and high mortality.

6. Niger

Niger is a very poor country in West Africa, covering an area of ​​1267 thousand square meters. km, hectares of which are home to 26.6 million people. Much of Niger is located in the Sahara Desert. This proximity to the planet's largest desert has become the reason for the problems that the country constantly faces - sandstorms and droughts are frequent in Niger, inevitably leading to starvation of local residents. The country's economy is based on mining and poorly developed agriculture. The harsh climate made more than 95% of the land unsuitable for farming. As in other countries on the African mainland, Niger lacks qualified medical personnel and hospitals, and therefore various diseases periodically break out there, developing into epidemics.

7. Malawi

Another poorest state in the world, the Republic of Malawi, is located in the southeast of the African continent. It occupies 118.4 thousand square meters. km, and the population exceeds 18 million people. The basis national economy makes up agriculture. The main source of income for Malawians is the cultivation of cotton, tea and tobacco. However, harsh natural conditions - droughts and unbearable heat often destroy crops and doom the population to starvation. For many years, the main problems in Malawi have been HIV, AIDS, and high infant mortality rates. On average, Malawians live to be 54 years old.

8. Mozambique

Mozambique is among the top 10 poorest countries in the world in 2018. The republic is located on an area of ​​801 thousand square meters. km in Southeast Africa. A 16-year civil war has left it in ruins and almost completely destroyed the economy. Now Mozambique is on the list of unfavorable states for life, which are highly dependent on foreign aid. The country possesses rich natural resources, but this cannot remedy the plight in any way. In its depths there are large reserves of coal and natural gas, and on its territory there is the largest hydroelectric power station in Africa, Kabora Bassa, which provides electricity not only for itself, but also for South Africa and Zimbabwe. Mozambique has a population of 28.8 million and more than half live in poverty. The situation is greatly complicated by the growing crime, overpopulation and unemployment.

9. Guinea

Republic, with an area of ​​462.8 thousand sq. km, is located off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in West Africa. Guinea has substantial hydropower, agricultural and mineral resources, but it still ranks among the poorest countries on the planet. For example, about half of the world's bauxite reserves are concentrated in Guinea. Also on its territory there are quite a few deposits of diamonds, uranium, iron ore and gold. Guinea has a population of 12.4 million, and almost half of them live below the poverty line. The official language in Guinea is French, only less than a third of the population speaks it.

10. Eritrea

Eritrea rounds off the top ten poorest countries in the world for 2018. Exactly this young state mainland, stretching on the arid coast of the Red Sea on an area of ​​117.6 thousand square meters. km. The economy of Eritrea is based on agriculture, which employs almost 80% of the population. Due to the destructive process of soil erosion in the country, there is an acute shortage of fertile land. If it were not for the constant military conflicts provoking migration of the population and destruction of the economy, it could leave the list of states unfit for life. But at the moment, Eritrea is in a deplorable economic situation, and its citizens are hastily fleeing abroad, fleeing hunger and hostilities.

The number of people living on the planet is growing every day, but, unfortunately, not everyone gets the opportunity to live in prosperity. Of the 7.5 billion people, according to scientists, at least a quarter of this number live below the poverty line. Citizens of some countries do not have trivial living conditions, constantly being in poverty and experiencing hunger. List of poorest countries in the world mainly consists of areas that are located in Africa.

Central African Republic

The list is opened by the Central African Republic, or CAR, which is the poorest country in the world. For a long time it was a colony, which came out of the rule of France only in 1960, but since then nothing has improved in it. Here, as before, there are constant hostilities and conflicts with other nearby states. The population consists of 5 million people, many of whom have to live in the open air. At the same time, the CAR has gold, diamonds and even oil as minerals, but this does not affect the welfare of citizens in any way.

In second place is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with over 82 million inhabitants. This is 15 times more than in the CAR, but it does not change the situation in any way. Here, too, there are many valuable minerals, but the eternal struggle for political leadership leads to armed conflicts. So far, it has not been possible to stop the strife, and even more so to cope with corruption, which permeates the entire system.

The East African state of Burundi is ranked third in the list of the poorest countries in the world. Initially, it was a colony of Great Britain, but after a long time Belgium had a great influence on these lands. Agriculture is what the whole of Burundi is based on. Also, this region is saved from the final collapse by the export of coffee and tea grown here. The infrastructure is poorly built and does not develop, because until now the overwhelming majority of the population remains without the opportunity to receive medical assistance and at least primary education.

There are no more than 4.7 million people within this African state. The reason for the poverty and such a small number of residents lies in the Civil Wars, which killed several hundred thousand civilians. In order to somehow stabilize the situation in domestic politics, several international organizations intervened. They really managed to stop the wars, but it will take more than a dozen years to raise Liberia from its knees.

As in all previous countries, corruption is also developed in Niger, and violence also prevailed. But gradually the state, most of which consists of the Sahara Desert, began to develop and now the level of GDP per capita, albeit slowly, is growing, which cannot but rejoice. This is facilitated by the presence of oil and uranium in the bowels of Niger.

A small country in southern Africa, a huge part of which is occupied by a lake. The population here does not exceed 18 million and suffers from poverty, hunger and regular epidemics that flare up every time with unprecedented strength. All that saves is the export of tobacco, as well as humanitarian and often financial assistance.

Mozambique

Mozambique ceased to be a Portuguese colony only in 1975, and it seems that it will take many more years for the economy in the vastness of these lands to strengthen, and the inhabitants cease to exist in total poverty. Since the moment of freedom, there have been more than one coup d'état, due to which people regularly emigrated. Those who stayed at home are now mining coal and aluminum, hoping that soon the level of well-being of people will increase.

Another state from Africa with a mass of minerals, including glands of gold, diamonds and iron ore. However, the government is not very good at managing its own resources. Actually, the very power that was at the helm of Guinea managed to self-organize only 50 years later, after the country ceased to be a colony.

Territorially small, Eritrea is washed by the Red Sea and is known only for the fact that for long thirty years it was at war with Ethiopia. At the end of the last century, the people of the country managed to achieve independence, but the president who stood at the head of Eritrea turned out to be a dictator who attaches great importance to the conduct of hostilities and the organization of the army, turning a blind eye to the fact that ordinary people suffer from hunger, often without the means to buy themselves the cheapest food.

Madagascar

In the lists of the rich and poor countries of the world, the people of Madagascar would choose to get into the first, but for now they round up the second. The only island, but even that one is close to dysfunctional Africa. The local population survives by fishing and agriculture, and the most positive thing about Madagascar is the cartoon of the same name.