Least Developed Countries

Least Developed Countries

1. The poorest and most economically weak of the developing countries, with alarming economic, institutional and human resource problems, which are often compounded by geographical handicaps and natural or man-made disasters.

   • Low Incomes..
     • Likely to have less than US$800 GDP per capita averaged over 3 years.
   • Human resource weaknesses
     • Nutrition, health, education, literacy rates.
   • Economic vulnerability
     • Shown by low level of economic diversification

2. Economic...

   • Low incomes -GNI per person is less than $745. GNI in Ethiopia in 2010 was $380.
   • High levels of debt - borrow money from HICs to develop but loans are large and have high interest rates.
   • Trade in low profit goods - primary products e.g. agricultural, timber and minerals.
   • Poor trade links - poorest 49 countries make 10% of worlds pop. but only 0.4% of its trade.
   • Trade deficit - spend more importing than exporting.
   • Economic Instability

3. Social...

   • Limited health care - Ethiopia has 30,000 patients for every doctor. UK 360 patients for every doctor.
   • High levels of malnutrition - Ethiopia (2004-2005) 46% of pop was undernourished.
   • Low levels of education - Ethiopia Primary attendance was 45% between 2005 and 2010
   • Lack of access to clean water and sanitation.
   • Low literacy rates - Ethiopia adult literacy was 30% in 2010.

4. Demographic..

   • Low life expectancy - Ethiopia 56, UK 80 in 2012
   • High infant mortality - Ethiopia 57/1000/year, UK 5/1000/year
   • Higher birth rates than death rates causing rapid pop. growth leading to food shortages etc.

5. Cultural...

   • Inequality between en and women - 30% men at secondary school to 23% women in Ethiopia between 2005 and 2010.

6. Political...

   • Not democratic governments - Ethipoia was communist until 1994.
   • War and conflict
   • Political corruption