Data gathered by a global economic organization reveals that several of the world's most impoverished regions are situated on the same continent. The data's validity is confirmed, and the ranking is determined by the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, calculated by dividing a nation's overall income by its population.
- South Sudan:
The most economically challenged among the world's nations is South Sudan. It is difficult to fathom the hardships faced by the South Sudanese population. This nation emerged following an agreement that marked the end of Africa's lengthiest civil conflict and was officially established on July 9, 2011, following the secession of the ten southernmost regions from Sudan.
South Sudan, despite its oil wealth, is marked by significant disparities, social and political divisions, corruption, and a lack of economic diversity. The majority of its people depend on traditional agriculture and rely heavily on international humanitarian assistance. Periods of drought and flooding devastate their ability to cultivate, consume, or trade.
Burundi:
Burundi achieved independence from Belgium in 1962, but it continues to grapple with violence. Despite the cessation of civil war over 15 years ago, the nation remains plagued by endemic corruption and security issues. Cities in Burundi lack basic infrastructure, with extremely limited access to electricity, sanitation, and clean water. Most residents receive only three years of education, and there are 740 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. It is indeed a nation mired in poverty.Central African Republic:
This country ranks as the third poorest globally and faces severe hunger levels, as indicated by the 2018 Global Hunger Index (GHI). The majority of its 5.4 million inhabitants live at or below the poverty threshold, with an average life expectancy of just 52.9 years. Ongoing violence since 2013 has disrupted lives, resulting in severe humanitarian crises marked by water shortages, inadequate sanitation facilities, and one of the world's highest child mortality rates. Daily survival is a constant struggle. Surprisingly, despite its wealth in gold, oil, uranium, and diamonds, mismanagement has kept this nation among the world's poorest for a significant portion of the past decade.Somalia:
Somalia has grappled with years of political instability, escalating inflation, and an unfavourable business environment, rendering it an unreliable destination for investors and consumers. The country is also highly susceptible to droughts, leading to food shortages, low vaccination rates, and dismal economic prospects.Democratic Republic of Congo:
Despite its vast fertile lands, abundant mineral deposits, and precious metals, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains categorized as one of the world's poorest nations due to a history marked by conflict and strife. The nation endured immense suffering during Africa's Great War, resulting in the loss of six million lives. Disease, malnutrition, and subsequent Ebola outbreaks further claimed countless lives. With an average population age of 17 and 64% of its 90 million inhabitants living in extreme poverty, the DRC has grappled with decades of dictatorship, political instability, and unceasing violence since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960.Mozambique:
Despite its abundant land, mineral wealth, energy resources, and access to water, a significant proportion of Mozambique's population continues to grapple with poverty. Corruption, political instability, and violence persist following a 15-year civil war that ended in 1992. Islamic insurgent groups have been active in the northern region since 2017, resulting in the deaths of approximately 4,000 people and the displacement of 800,000. The nation also contends with severe weather events, flooding, and crop destruction, leading to food shortages.Niger:
Niger faces the threat of desertification, high levels of food insecurity, disease, and mortality rates. Recurrent clashes between the army and the ISIS-affiliated Boko Haram have displaced thousands. Over the past decade, nearly half of the population has endured extreme poverty, leading to high mortality rates, endemic malaria, and a lack of essential services, sanitation, and access to safe drinking water.Malawi:
Malawi's economic limitations and substantial debt burden have hindered its development. A weak business environment and limited financial resources fail to support its populace adequately. The country struggles with unreliable services due to insufficient private investment and power outages disrupt businesses. Vulnerability to extreme weather events and inconsistent agricultural yields exacerbates food shortages, compounded by rising commodity prices and inflation triggered by the conflict in Ukraine.Chad:
Chad, with Africa's tenth-largest oil reserves, still grapples with widespread poverty, ranking as the ninth poorest country globally. Although legislation required consultation before allocating public funds and reserved 85% of oil revenue to combat poverty after the discovery of oil at the turn of the century, inadequate governance under Idriss Deby since 1990 resulted in the majority of funds being diverted to militias rather than public financing, infrastructure development, or improved healthcare and education.Liberia:
Liberia, the tenth on this list, endured the devastating Ebola outbreak from 2014 to 2016, with 10,675 infections and 4,809 fatalities. This nation, still recovering from years of conflict, contends with poverty, as one-third of its children suffer from malnutrition. In 2016, half of the population lived below the poverty line, with most children receiving less than five years of education.
More than 42% of Liberians lack access to clean water, and the nation grapples with persistent malaria and gender-based violence, with minimal government intervention to address these challenges.
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