The Poorest Countries in the World

Zimbabwe is globally recognized for its rural poverty. Political and economic rises have been quoted as the reasons behind the rising poverty and social decline.

In the process of recovering from the aftereffects of the 14-year civil war that ended in 2003, Liberia has 80 per cent of its residents surviving on less than 1.25 USD on a per day basis.

Since 10 years, poverty has been a problem for more than 50% of the population. In 1980, a little less than 30% of Nigerians were actually living below the poverty line.

With a history of violence and troubles, Burundi has seven out of ten Burundians living below the line of poverty. It also ranks in 167th place among 177 countries on the 2007 UN Human Development Index.

Amidst the availability of natural resources like uranium, minerals, crude oil and gold/diamonds, Central African Republic accounts for the poorest country due to low economic growth and little human development.

With 60% of its economy dependent on subsistence agriculture, Eritrea has about 60 per cent of its population deriving income and food from agricultural activities.

High population growth and an entire decade of civil war that ended in 2002 has made Sierra Leone one of the poorest countries in the world.

Malawi ranks 160th out of 182 countries on the Human Development Index. It has 74 per cent of its population living below the income poverty line of US$1.25 a day.

After suffering through a socio-political crisis during 1990s, Togo witnessed economic regression and a downfall in public and international aid. 62 per cent of its population is living below the poverty line.