These 10 Poorest Countries of the World Are Based on the Human Development Index Researched by the United Nations Development Programme

1. Niger

Niger has an estimated total population of 12,525,094 and is ranked as the “poorest country in the world” (last out of 177 countries) by the United Nations Human Development Report 2005. Niger is a landlocked country bordered by Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali and Nigeria. As one of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC), it received $1.2 billion as debt relief from the World Bank and the IMF in 2004 but the next year, the population suffered from drought and faced a severe food crisis with an estimated 1.8 million people suffering. During this period, agricultural production fell by 12%.

On the other hand, some improvements were made as primary enrollment rose 24% (1990) to 38% (2002). As part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy, the 10-year development plan for education was launched in 2002.
Assistance to Niger by donor countries has mainly focused on girls’ education, humanitarian assistance and debt relief. For example, the UK’s Department for International Development has pledged to provide £7 million over the next 3 years.

In 2002-2005, Niger had an average growth rate of 3.7 percent, a positive sign of a stronger economy. In April 2004, Niger reached the HIPC Completion Point, including topping-up equivalent to US$142 million.

Statistics:

• Per capita GDP: US$280 (2005).
• Population below poverty line (live on less than $1 a day): 63% (1993 est.)
• External Debt: $2.1 billion (2003 est.)
• Adult literacy rate: less than 15% (2003)
• Gross primary school enrollment: 52.4%
• Infant mortality: 126 per 1,000
• Life expectancy: 46 years old
• HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate: 1.2% (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 70,000 (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – deaths: 4,800 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

• Degree of risk: very high
• Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
• Vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations
• Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)

2. Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone has significant mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, but has an underdeveloped economic and social infrastructure with agriculture as the main source of subsistence by two-thirds of the working population but with an increasing labour force in productive sectors such as diamond mining with an output expansion of 44% in 2003.

It is bordered by Liberia in the southeast, Guinea in the north and the Atlantic Ocean in the west. It is one of the extremely poor countries in the world, ranked 176 of 177 countries in the 2005 United Nations Human Development Index.

*Statistics: *

• People living below poverty line: 5 million
• Population: 6 million (CIA Factbook July 2006 est.)
• Population growth rate: 2.3% (2006 est.)
• GDP growth: 7.4% (2004)
• GNI per capita: $200 (2004 est.)
• GDP per capita (PPP): $800 (2005 est.)
• Life expectancy: 37 years old (male), 39 years old (female) (UNCTAD est. 2005)
• HIV prevalence for adults: 7% (2001 CIA Factbook est.)
• HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 170,000 (2001 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – deaths: 11,000 (2001 est.)
• Fertility rate, total (births per woman): 6.5
• Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births): 284 (2003 est.)
• Adult literacy rate: (2000 est.) 51% (m), 23% (f)
• Population growth (annual %): 4.2
• Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24): 37.2
• Export growth: 17% (2004, mainly alluvial diamonds)
• Birth rate: 45.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Death rate: 23.03 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Infant mortality rate (2006 est.): 177.47 deaths/1,000 live births (male), 142.8 deaths/1,000 live births (female)

Major infectious diseases:

• Degree of risk: very high
• Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
• Vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
• Water contact disease: schistosomiasis
• Aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2005)

3.Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country bordered by Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Togo and is ranked 175 (out of 177 countries) by the UNDP’s Human Development Index. Majority of the population (90%) engage in agriculture with cotton as the key crop but recurring droughts make it one of the poorest countries.

Statistics:

• Population below poverty line: 45% (2003 est.)
• Population: 13,902,972 (July 2006 CIA est.)
• Population growth rate: 3% (2006 est.)
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $16.95 billion (2005 est.)
• Labor force: 5 million (note: a large part of the male labour force migrates annually to neighbouring countries for seasonal employment)
• Infant mortality rate (2006): 99.17 deaths/1,000 live births (male), 83.3 deaths/1,000 live births (female)
• Life expectancy at birth (2006 est.): 47.33 years (male), 50.42 years (female)
• Total fertility rate: 6.47 children born/woman (2006 est.)
• HIV/AIDS adult prevalence: 4.2% (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 300,000 (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – deaths: 29,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

• Degree of risk: very high
• Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
• Vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations
• Water contact disease: schistosomiasis
• Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)

4. Mali

Mali is a semi-desert landlocked country with 10% of the population nomadic and 80% of the working population subsisting on farming and fishing, with gold and cotton as its main exports. It is also heavily dependent on foreign aid and in 2003 ranked 174 out of 177 countries (UNDP HDI).
Through an IMF-inspired structural adjustment and a gradual process of political stability, Mali’s GNI per capita rose from US$240 (1994) to US$370 (2005), a 4% average annual increase.

Statistics:

• GDP (2005): US$ 4.9 billion
• GDP annual growth: 2.2%
• Population: 13.5 million (UNCTAD 2005 est.)
• Annual population growth: 3% (UNCTAD and CIA Factbook, 2005 est.)
• Life expectancy at birth: 48 years old
• Mortality rate, infant: 121/1,000 live births
• Adult literacy rate (UNCTAD 2000): 36% (male), 16% (female)
• Primary school enrollment: 63.8% (2004 est.)
• Secondary school enrollment: 22.3%
• Tertiary school enrollment: 2.1%
• Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above): 19.0
• Birth rate: 45.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Death rate: 23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Infant mortality rate (2006 CIA Factbook): 177.47 deaths/1,000 live births (male), 142.8 deaths/1,000 live (female) births (2006 est.)
• Life expectancy at birth (2006 est.): 38 years old (male), 42 years (female)
• HIV/AIDS prevalence in adults: 7% (CIA 2001 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 170,000 (2001 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – deaths: 11,000 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

• Degree of risk: very high
• Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
• Vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
• Water contact disease: schistosomiasis
• Erosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2005)

5. Chad

Foreign Direct Investments in the oil sector began in 2000, helping boost its economy. Although Chad’s total oil reserves has been estimated to be 2 billion barrels, farming and livestock-raising still remains as a major source of livelihood due to Chad’s landlockness and a history of civil war. Its border countries are Cameroon, Central African Republic, Libya, Niger, Nigeria and Sudan. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic are the country’s non-oil export earnings, with oil exports beginning only in 2004. The UNDP’s HDI ranks Chad among the world’s ten poorest countries, placing 173 out of 177 in 2003, the same period that Chad adopted a Poverty Reduction Strategy to improve the social, judicial, political and economic situation in the country.

Statistics:

• Population: 9.9 million (July 2006 est.)
• Per capita income: less that US$250/year
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $14.79 billion (2005 est.)
• GDP (official exchange rate): $4.799 billion (2005 est.)
• GDP – real growth rate: 6% (2005 est.)
• GDP – per capita (PPP): $1,500 (2005 est.)
• Population below poverty line: 80% (2001 est.)
• Gross primary enrollment rate (GER): 88% (male), 55 % (female), 2000 est.
• Population growth rate: 2.93% (2006 est.)
• Population undernourished: 34% (2000-2002, UNCTAD est.)
• Birth rate: 45 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Life expectancy at birth: 45 years (male), 49 years (female), (2006 est.)
• Total fertility rate: 6 children born/woman (2006 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate: 4.8% (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 200,000 (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – deaths: 18,000 (2003 est.)
• Adult literacy rate: 52% (male), 34% (female), (UNCTAD 2005 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

• Degree of risk: very high
• Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
• Vectorborne disease: malaria
• Water contact disease: schistosomiasis
• Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)

6. Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is ranked 172 out of 177 by the UNDP HDI and its economy depends on farming and fishing. It exports fish, seafood, peanuts, palm kernels and timber. There is a vast income disparity in the country and in December 2003, the World Bank, IMF, and UNDP provided $107 million emergency budgetary support to help forward the country’s economic development.

Statistics:

• Population: 1.4 million (July 2006 est.)
• Population growth rate: 2.07% (2006 est.)
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.185 billion (2005 est.)
• GDP (official exchange rate): $280 million (2005 est.)
• GDP – real growth rate: 2.3% (2005 est.)
• GDP – per capita (PPP): $800 (2005 est.)
• Birth rate: 37.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Death rate: 16.53 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Infant mortality rate: 115 deaths/1,000 live births (male), 94 deaths/1,000 live births (female), (2006 est.)
• Life expectancy at birth: 45 years (male), 48 years (male), (2006 est.)
• Total fertility rate: 4.86 children born/woman (2006 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate: 10% (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 17,000 (2001 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – deaths: 1,200 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

• Degree of risk: very high
• Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
• Vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
• Water contact disease: schistosomiasis
• Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)

7. Central African Republic

The Central African Republic is ranked 171 by the UNDP Human Development Index. Agriculture and forestry are the main source of subsistence by the labour force with the agricultural sector generating more than half of the country’s GDP. Due to its landlocked position, poor transport, unskilled work force, and a history of misdirected economic policies, CAR has been unable to develop economically.

Statistics:

• Population: 4.3 million as of July 2006 (CIA Factbook Note: estimates for this country explicitly takes into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected)
• Population growth rate: 1.53% (2006 est.)
• Birth rate: 33.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Death rate: 18.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Infant mortality rate (2006 est.): 92.44 deaths/1,000 live births (male), 78.61 deaths/1,000 live births (female
• Life expectancy at birth: 43.46 years (male), 43.62 years (female), (2006 est.)
• Total fertility rate: 4.41 children born/woman (2006 est.)
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.784 billion (2005 est.)
• GDP (official exchange rate): $1.462 billion (2005 est.)
• GDP – real growth rate: 2.2% (2005 est.)
• GDP – per capita (PPP): $1,100 (2005 est.)
• Unemployment rate: 8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)
• Population below poverty line: NA%
• HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate: 13.5% (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 260,000 (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – deaths: 23,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

• Degree of risk: very high
• Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
• Vectorborne disease: malaria
• Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)

8. Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries, ranking 170 out 177 countries in the Human Development Index. More than half of its GDP is dependent on the agricultural sector, which suffers from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices. Coffee exports bring in $156 million but low market prices have forced farmers to result to cultivating qat to supplement income. In November 2001, Ethiopia qualified for debt relief from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and in December 2005 the International Monetary Fund forgave Ethiopia’s debt.

Some notable improvements have been recorded as well by the DFID. These are:

• Contraceptive use has doubled from 6% in 2000 to 14% in 2005.
• A decline in the incidence of new HIV infections in urban areas, from 2.5 new cases of infection per 100 adults in 1990-92 to below 2 since 1995.
• The number of births attended by skilled health professionals increased from 3.5% in 1998 to 9.5% in 2003.
• The heavy investment in roads has increased the proportion of people living less than 5 km from an all-weather road from 37% in 2000 to 42% in 2004.

Statistics:

• Population: 74.7 million. CIA Factbook Note: estimates take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS which can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)
• Population growth rate: 2.31% (2006 est.)
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $62.88 billion (2005 est.)
• GDP – per capita (PPP): $900 (2005 est.)
• Population below poverty line: 50% (2004 est.) note: 80% of the population lives on less than $2 a day.
• Annual income is just over $125 per person)
• Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Death rate: 14 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Infant mortality rate: 103.43 deaths/1,000 live births (male), 83.51 deaths/1,000 live births (female), (2006 est.)
• Life expectancy at birth: 47 years (male), 50 years (female), (2006 est.)
• Total fertility rate: 5.22 children born/woman (2006 est.)
• Population undernourished: 46% (2000-2002)
• Adult literacy rate (UNCTAD 2000 est.): 47 (male), 31% (female)
• Population using improved drinking water (UNCTAD 2002 est.): 81% (urban), 11% (rural)
• HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate: 4.4% (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 1.5 million (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – deaths: 120,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

• Degree of risk: very high
• Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and hepatitis E
• Vectorborne diseases: malaria and cutaneous leishmaniasis are high risks in some locations
• Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
• Animal contact disease: rabies
• Water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)

9. Burundi

Ranked 169 by the UNDP’s HDI, Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector, bordered by Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The working population is highly dependent on the agricultural sector (coffee and tea exports), accounting for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. World Bank and UN estimates state that one in two children go to school and one in 10 adults has HIV/AIDS.

Some notable improvements:

• Increasing youth literacy particularly among girls
• An increase in infant and child mortality
• Free health care for pregnant women and children under 5.

Statistics:

• Population: 8.1 million (July 2006 est.)
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $5.654 billion (2005 est.)
• GDP – per capita (PPP): $700 (2005 est.)
• Labor force: 2.99 million (2002) – agriculture: 93.6%, industry: 2.3%, services: 4.1% (2002 est.)
• Population below poverty line: 68% (2002 est.)
• Population growth rate: 3.7% (2006 est.)
• Birth rate: 42 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Infant mortality rate: 70 deaths/1,000 live births (male), 55 deaths/1,000 live births (female), (2006 est.)
• Life expectancy at birth: 50 years (male), 51 years (female), (2006 est.)
• Total fertility rate: 6.55 children born/woman (2006 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate: 6% (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 250,000 (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – deaths: 25,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

• Degree of risk: very high
• Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
• Vectorborne disease: malaria (2005)

10. Mozambique

Mozambique is ranked 168 in the UNDP Human Development Index. The main source of livelihood is agriculture followed by manufacturing, then commerce, construction and transport and communications.

Among the significant progress Mozambique has achieved are:

• Declining poverty rates 69% 1997, 54% 2003, meaning 3 million fewer people live below the poverty line.
• Large increase in primary enrolment 44% 1999 to 76% 2004, (1 million primary school enrolment in 2004)
• Decrease in child and maternal mortality 195 between 1997 and 2003 (219 deaths/1000 live births to 178 in 2003), meaning an estimated one less child in every 25 is dying before their fifth birthday
• Maternal morality rates fell by over 50% since 1995
• Economic growth rate 8%/year since 1997

Statistics:

• Population: 19.6 million. CIA Factbook Note: estimates take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS which can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected; the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2006 est.)
• DP (purchasing power parity): $26.03 billion (2005 est.)
• GDP – per capita (PPP): $1,300 (2005 est.)
• Unemployment rate: 21% (1997 est.)
• Population below poverty line: 70% (2001 est.)
• Population growth rate: 1.38% (2006 est.)
• Birth rate: 35 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Death rate: 21 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
• Infant mortality rate (2006 est.): 134.31 deaths/1,000 live births (male), 124.02 deaths/1,000 live births (female)
• Life expectancy at birth: 39 years (male), 40 years (female), (2006 est.)
• Total fertility rate: 4.62 children born/woman (2006 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate: 12.2% (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 1.3 million (2003 est.)
• HIV/AIDS – deaths: 110,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

• Degree of risk: very high
• Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
• Vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some locations
• Water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)