mitrobeIn 2021, the world’s population of the earth exceeds 7.7 billion people. In the last century alone, the number of people in the world has increased by 4.35 billion.
Unfortunately, citizens of not every state are provided with basic conditions for normal life. For example, according to recent research by experts at the University of Oxford, in 103 countries, home to 76% of the world’s population (5.4 billion people), at least 26.5% (1.45 billion) people live below the poverty line.
The poorest countries in the world are mostly African nations. These states are dominated by authoritarian regimes, constant military conflicts, an underdeveloped economy, total corruption, crime, environmental difficulties and a host of other problems.
Based on the World Bank’s criteria, countries, where PER capita GDP is below $1,025 per year, can be categorized as “very poor.” In the richest countries in the world, this figure exceeds 12,475 dollars.
Today, at least 800 million people live on a cost of no more than $1.25 a day. Add another dollar and get 2.7 billion.
10 Poorest Nations in the World in 2021
Overall, almost half of the world’s population remains in abject poverty. According to official statistics by the International Monetary Fund and taking into account the level of GDP per capita by purchasing power parity, we will rank the top 10 poorest countries in the world in 2021.
1.Liberia
Liberia gained her independence in 1882. Liberia ranked as one of the lowest poorest countries by the U.N human development index with 54% living below the poverty line and 1.3 million living in extreme poverty out of a country of 4.6million.
41% of her population is affected by food insecurity which has led to malnutrition with a record of 45% of her children’s death resulting from malnutrition.
The Ebola outbreak in 2014 killed over 3,500 people and stopped foreign and international trade due to fear of the deadly virus.
94% of her workers live below the poverty line and about 20% of her 6-14 years old children are out of school.
Liberia has suffered from its internal civil war which lasted for about 14years with over 700,000 seeking asylum in neighboring countries and millions of properties destroyed leading to low productivity in the country.
The unemployment rate is high with 85% of her youth not employed.
2.Burundi
Burundi is an African country that gained her independence in 1962. In 2011 Burundi ranked 185th out of 187 in the UNDP development index with over 82.1% of her population living in extreme poverty.
With over 400,000 Burundians living as refugees in neighbouring countries like Rwanda and 140,000 internally displaced due to the ethnic civil war that lasted from 1993-2005 leaving the small population to venture in agriculture which is her major source of income.
About 90% of her population rely on agriculture, with the effect of unfavorable climatic conditions, bad topography, drought, erosion and poor Farming have limited the supply of agricultural products throughout the country this leading to about 53% Burundians children suffering from malnutrition.
In 2014 42% of her national income was donated by foreign countries.
3. Mozambique
Mozambique gained her independence in 1975.
Mozambique ranks 181 out of 187 countries by UNDP Human Development Index with 70% of her population living in poverty and a life expectancy of about 55years.
One of the major causes of her property is her civil war which lasted from 1977 to 1992 with over 900,000 death and 5,000,000 internally displaced which led to her debt of $5billion in 1998 due to foreign aid during the war.
Agriculture is the country’s main Source of income but due to the civil war, only 7% of her lands are arable coupled with flood and drought.
Mozambique ranked 8th position in countries with most infected persons with the Job virus according to UNAIDS over 15% of her 15-49years population are infected with HIV.
Only 56% of her population is literate and 43% of her children suffer from malnutrition.
4. Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is rated as one amongst the poorest countries in the world, with GNI of per capita:$1,640, and in 2017 it’s GDP was 36.2 billion. she gained independence in 1960. more than 40% of her population is living in extreme poverty according to the world Bank.
The life expectancy in Burkina Faso is approximately 60.8. Agriculture has been her major source of wealth, with Drought affecting her profit in the sector making it one of the major causes of her poverty also irregular rainfall pattern has also prevented her from gaining profit in the sector.
In 2015 Burkina Faso has been said to have recorded high fertility and mortality rate with approximately 5 children to one woman, the ever-expanding population would have a negative impact on her Economy.
5. Mali
Mali has been ranked as one of the countries with the poorest persons in the world by the human index development.
She gained her independence in 1960 with a GNI per capita of $1,953 and a life FC expectancy of about 58.7.
50% of her population is living in extreme poverty.
Mali ranked on the human development index in 2015 at no 179 out of 188 poorest countries in the world.
One of the major causes of her poverty was the 2012 military coup which resulted in some part of Mali not undergoing governmental development because it was seized by rebel forces.
Her major source of wealth has been agriculture but with extreme conditions like soil erosion, degradation in pasture lands and deforestation has really crippled her source of income in the sector.
Due to the weather conditions coupled with the fact that the farming is done in user development areas and this has lead to the increase in food insecurity with over 315,000 Malians experiencing food insecurity during the 2016 lean season.
6. The central African Republic
The central African Republic isn’t left out of the group of poorest countries in the world, she gained her independence in 1960.
CAR has been ranked has 2nd poorest country in the world by the UN Human Development Index ranking it 188 out of 189 poorest countries, With her ongoing civil war between the government and the Séléka rebel and the anti-Balaka rebels had made many abandon their country for the fear of being killed.
77% of CAR livestock has been destroyed by the civil war.
Over 467,000 of her citizens lives as a refugee in nearby countries and over 384,000 has been displaced.
CAR unfavourable geographic location has also hindered the exportation of goods and services to the international market.
67% of CAR income comes from agriculture which comes from undeveloped rural areas with no access to modern facilities for food security and preservation.
7. South Sudan
The list of the poorest country in the world won’t be complete without South Sudan
The country gained her independence in 2011, with her GNI per capita at $963.
82% of the people living in South Sudan are living in extreme poverty According to world Bank 2016, with life expectancy at 57.3years.
The rate of unemployment in South Sudan is around 12% with 73% of her Adult males being illiterates and 84% of her women illiterates.
South Sudan is majorly rural with about 83% of her population residing in rural areas.
The major cause of poverty in South Sudan is because of its civil war between the northern and southern part of Sudan which rendered about 4.5million of the country’s population homeless.
With Agriculture being its major source of income, the majority of her farmer is Rural, with little or no knowledge of modern farming equipment or facility, hence low harvest and low storage are experienced.
8. Chad
CHAD is a west African country that is also rated as one of the countries with the poorest persons in the world. Chad is also listed among the poorest nations in the world, the country gained independence in 1960.
Chad was according to U.N Human Development Index ranked 186 out of 188 countries living in poverty. About 47% of her population lives in extreme poverty with her GNI at $1,750 and life expectancy at 53.2years.
The major cause of poverty in Chad is her ethnic and religious war coupled with its corrupt government. Agriculture is her major source of income, but with the majority of her landscape covered by desert, farming has been difficult coupled with Drought and poor harvest, food insecurity has also been on the increase.
9. Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world according to human development index 2011.
The country gained its independence in 1961.
She is blessed with natural resources like a diamond but yet the majority live in poverty.
Sierra Leone’s economy declined due to her over a decade of war between the revolutionary united front and the government which lasted for 11years from 1991-2002. Over 65% of her population lives in extreme poverty.
The life expectancy for adults in Sierra Leone is about 53.3 %, over 70% of Sierra Leone youth are unemployed.
The Ebola crisis(2014-2016) hit Sierra Leone the hardest with over 3900 death and 12900 infected cases which caused a nationwide lockdown.s
Sierra Leone has also been thrown into poverty by her corrupted government like free medical drug donated by other Nation been sold by the government for profit, high government officials seize both the national fund and international fund for personal luxurious living, thus making sierra leone what it is today.
10. Niger
Niger one of the poorest countries in the world gained her independence in 1960 with a GNI per capita of $906 and a life expectancy of around 60.4years.
In 2015 Niger was ranked the poorest country in the World by the UN Human Development report.
44.5% of her 21.5million people live in extreme poverty.
Niger depends on Agriculture as her main source of income and with 80% of her territory covered by the Sahara desert coupled with the little arable land for farming, illiteracy, and unfavourable climate conditions such as drought which as 2010 had 17% of the country children malnourished.
The terrorist act by the jihadist sect ‘Boko Haram’ had caused thousand of Niger citizens without food and shelter.
mitrobe
James steller
