Least developed countries

Last updated
.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Least developed countries (designated by the UN as of 2023) Former least developed countries Least Developed Countries Map New.svg
  Least developed countries (designated by the UN as of 2023)
  Former least developed countries

The least developed countries (LDCs) are developing countries listed by the United Nations that exhibit the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development. The concept of LDCs originated in the late 1960s and the first group of LDCs was listed by the UN in its resolution 2768 (XXVI) on 18 November 1971. [1]

Contents

A country is classified among the Least Developed Countries if it meets three criteria: [2] [3]

As of December 2023, 45 countries were still classified as LDC, while seven graduated between 1994 and 2023. [4] The World Trade Organization (WTO) recognizes the UN list and says that "Measures taken in the framework of the WTO can help LDCs increase their exports to other WTO members and attract investment. In many developing countries, pro-market reforms have encouraged faster growth, diversification of exports, and more effective participation in the multilateral trading system." [5]

Overview

Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day Poverty headcount ratio at 1.90 a day.png
Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day
G33 countries: a coalition of developing countries in regards to agriculture. G33 Members.svg
G33 countries: a coalition of developing countries in regards to agriculture.

LDC criteria are reviewed every three years by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Countries may be removed from the LDC classification when indicators exceed these criteria in two consecutive triennial reviews. [6] The United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) coordinates UN support and provides advocacy services for Least Developed Countries. The classification (as of December 2020) applies to 46 countries. [4]

At the UN's fourth conference on LDCs, which was held in May 2011, delegates endorsed a goal targeting the promotion of at least half the current LDC countries within the next ten years. [7] As of 2018, ten or more countries were expected to graduate in 2024, with Bangladesh and Djibouti already satisfying all criteria in 2018. [8]

There is one country which presently meets the criteria and two countries which previously met the criteria for LDC status, but declined to be included in the index, questioning the validity or accuracy of the CDP's data: Ghana (no longer meets criteria as of 1994), Papua New Guinea (no longer meets criteria as of 2009), and Zimbabwe. [9]

Usage and abbreviations

Least developed countries can be distinguished from developing countries, "less developed countries", "lesser developed countries", or other similar terms.

The term "less economically developed country" (LEDC) is also used today. However, in order to avoid confusion between "least developed country" and "less economically developed country" (which may both be abbreviated as LDC), and to avoid confusion with landlocked developing country (which can be abbreviated as LLDC), "developing country" is generally used in preference to "less-developed country".

During a United Nations review in 2018, the UN defined LDCs as countries meeting three criteria, one of which was a three-year average estimate of gross national income (GNI) per capita of less than US$1,025. [10]

UN conferences

Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece Spyros Kouvelis at the 4th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis at the 4th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (5709246557).jpg
Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece Spyros Kouvelis at the 4th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries

There were five United Nations conferences on LDCs, held every ten years. The first two were in Paris, in 1981 and 1991; the third was in Brussels in 2001.

The Fourth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC-IV) was held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 9–13 May 2011. It was attended by Ban Ki-moon, the head of the UN, and close to 50 prime ministers and heads of state. The conference endorsed the goal of raising half the existing Least developed countries out of the LDC category in 2022. As with the Seoul Development Consensus drawn up in 2010, there was a strong emphasis on boosting productive capability and physical infrastructure, with several NGOs not pleased with the emphasis placed on the private sector. [7] [11]

Trade

Issues surrounding global trade regulations and LDCs have gained a lot of media and policy attention thanks to the recently collapsed Doha Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations being termed a development round. During the WTO's Hong Kong Ministerial, it was agreed that LDCs could see 100 percent duty-free, quota-free access to U.S. markets if the round were completed. But analysis of the deal by NGOs found that the text of the proposed LDC deal had substantial loopholes that might make the offer less than the full 100 percent access, and could even erase some current duty-free access of LDCs to rich country markets. [12] [13] Dissatisfaction with these loopholes led some economists to call for a reworking of the Hong Kong deal.[ citation needed ]

Chiedu Osakwe, as of 2001 the Director, Technical Cooperation Division at the Secretariat of the WTO, and adviser to the Director-General on developing country matters, was appointed as the WTO Special Coordinator for the Least Developed Countries beginning in 1999. [14] He worked closely with the five other agencies that together with the WTO constitute the Integrated Framework of action for the Least Developed Countries. They addressed issues of market access, special and differential treatment provisions for developing countries, participation of developing countries in the multilateral trading system, and development questions, especially the interests of developing countries in competition policy. [15] At the 28th G8 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien proposed and carried the Market Access Initiative, so that the then 48 LDCs could profit from "trade-not-aid". [16] Additionally, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 advocates for an effective special and differential treatment of LDCs as integral parts of WTO fisheries subsidies negotiation. [17]

List of countries

The following 45 countries were still listed as least developed countries by the UN as of December 2023: [18] Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Tanzania, Yemen, and Zambia.

By continent or region

There are 33 countries that are classified as least developed countries in Africa, eight in Asia, three in Oceania, and one in the Americas.

The list of "least developed countries" according to the United Nations with some that are categorized into the landlocked developing countries and the Small Island Developing States: [19]

Africa

Americas

Asia

Oceania

Delisted countries (graduated countries)

The three criteria (human assets, economic vulnerability and gross national income per capita) are assessed by the Committee for Development Policy every three years. Countries must meet two of the three criteria at two consecutive triennial reviews to be considered for graduation. The Committee for Development Policy sends its recommendations for endorsement to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). [23]

After the initiation of the LDC category, seven countries graduated to developing country status. The first country to graduate from LDC status was Botswana in 1994. The second country was Cape Verde in 2007. [24] Maldives graduated to developing country status at the beginning of 2011, Samoa in 2014, [6] [25] Equatorial Guinea in 2017, [26] Vanuatu in December 2020, [27] and Bhutan in December 2023. [28]

The following countries are no longer categorized in the "least developed countries" group:

Countries expected to graduate soon

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Bhutan</span>

The economy of Bhutan is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 60% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult. Bhutan is among the richest by gross domestic product (nominal) per capita in South Asia, at $3,491 as of 2022, but it still places 153rd, and among the poorest in the world. The total gross domestic product is only $2,653 million, and 178th according to IMF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Conference on Trade and Development</span> Permanent intergovernmental body

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is an intergovernmental organization within the United Nations Secretariat that promotes the interests of developing countries in world trade. It was established in 1964 by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and reports to that body and the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). UNCTAD is composed of 195 member states and works with nongovernmental organizations worldwide; its permanent secretariat is in Geneva, Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Developing country</span> Nation with a lower living standard relative to more developed countries

A developing country is a sovereign state with a less developed industrial base and a lower Human Development Index (HDI) relative to other countries. However, this definition is not universally agreed upon. There is also no clear agreement on which countries fit this category. The terms low and middle-income country (LMIC) and newly emerging economy (NEE) are often used interchangeably but refers only to the economy of the countries. The World Bank classifies the world's economies into four groups, based on gross national income per capita: high, upper-middle, lower-middle, and low income countries. Least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states are all sub-groupings of developing countries. Countries on the other end of the spectrum are usually referred to as high-income countries or developed countries.

From 1916 to 1975, Tuvalu was part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony of the United Kingdom. A referendum was held in 1974 to determine whether the Gilbert Islands and Ellice Islands should each have their own administration. As a consequence of the referendum, the separate British colonies of Kiribati and Tuvalu were formed. Tuvalu became fully independent as a sovereign state within the Commonwealth on 1 October 1978. On 5 September 2000, Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Asian Free Trade Area</span> Multilateral trade agreement

The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) is a 2004 agreement that created a free-trade area of 1.6 billion people in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka with the vision of increasing economic cooperation and integration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everything but Arms</span>

Everything but Arms (EBA) is an initiative of the European Union under which all imports to the EU from the least developed countries are duty-free and quota-free, with the exception of armaments. EBA entered into force on 5 March 2001. There were transitional arrangements for bananas, sugar and rice until January 2006, July 2009 and September 2009 respectively. The EBA is part of the EU Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). The up-to-date list of all countries benefiting from such preferential treatment is given in Annex IV of the consolidated text of Regulation (EU) 978/2012.

The landlocked developing countries (LLDC) are developing countries that are landlocked. Due to the economic and other disadvantages suffered by such countries, the majority of landlocked countries are least developed countries (LDCs), with inhabitants of these countries occupying the bottom billion tier of the world's population in terms of poverty. Outside of Europe, there is not a single highly developed landlocked country as measured by the Human Development Index (HDI), and nine of the twelve countries with the lowest HDI scores are landlocked. Landlocked European countries are exceptions in terms of development outcomes due to their close integration with the regional European market. Landlocked countries that rely on transoceanic trade usually suffer a cost of trade that is double that of their maritime neighbours. Landlocked countries experience economic growth 6% less than non-landlocked countries, holding other variables constant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economic Partnership Agreements</span> Economic agreements between the EU and other countries

Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are a scheme to create a free trade area (FTA) between the European Union and other countries. They are a response to continuing criticism that the non-reciprocal and discriminating preferential trade agreements offered by the EU are incompatible with WTO rules. The EPAs date back to the signing of the Cotonou Agreement. The EPAs with the different regions are at different states of play. The EU has signed EPAs with the following countries: the Southern African Development Community (SADC), ECOWAS, six countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, Cameroon, four Pacific states, and the CARIFORUM states. Their defining characteristic is that they open up exports to the EU immediately, while exports to the partner regions is opened up only partially and over transitioning periods.

The G90, otherwise known as the Group of 90, is an alliance between the poorest and smallest developing countries, many of whom are part of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The G90 emerged as a strong grouping at the WTO’s Ministerial conference at Cancun in September 2003, taking common positions representing the largest number of countries, with 64 of the 90 countries in the G90 being members of the WTO. It is the largest trading body in the WTO, and it was formed as an umbrella body including the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group (ACP), the African Union, and the group of Least Developed Countries (LDC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centre for Policy Dialogue</span> Research institute in Bangladesh

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), established in 1993 by Rehman Sobhan, its Founder chairman, with support from leading civil society institutions in Bangladesh, is mandated by its Deed of Trust to service the growing demand originating from the emerging civil society of Bangladesh for a more participatory and accountable development process. CPD seeks to address this felt-need from the perspectives of marginalised stakeholders, by way of organising multistakeholder consultations, by conducting research on issues of critical national, regional and global interests, through dissemination of knowledge and information on key developmental issues, and by influencing the concerned policy making processes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Cape Verde</span>

The economy of Cape Verde is a service-oriented economy that is focused on commerce, trade, transport and public services. Cape Verde is a small archipelagic nation that lacks resources and has experienced severe droughts. Agriculture is made difficult by lack of rain and is restricted to only four islands for most of the year. Cape Verde's economy has been steadily growing since the late 1990s, and it is now officially considered a country of average development, being only the second African country to have achieved such transition, after Botswana in 1994. Cape Verde has significant cooperation with Portugal at every level of the economy, which has led it to link its currency first to the Portuguese escudo and, in 1999, to the euro.

Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations in September 2000. Tuvalu is one of 14 states not recognising the People's Republic of China. The country has played a role in advocating for more ambitious international cooperation on mitigating climate change, given the country's vulnerability to its impacts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries</span> Preferential trade agreement signed in 1988 by 42 developing countries


The Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries(G.S.T.P) is a preferential trade agreement, currently encompassing 42 members (“participants”), signed on 13 April 1988 with the aim of increasing trade between developing countries. It was negotiated within the framework of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Agreement entered into force on 19 April 1989 and was notified to the then General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), predecessor of the World Trade Organization (WTO), on 25 September 1989. The 42 members of GSTP include 7 LDCs as well.

The Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Assistance for the Least Developed Countries is a global development program with the objective of supporting least developed countries (LDCs) to better integrate into the global trading system and to make trade a driver for development. The multi-donor program was launched on 1 January 2007 as the successor of the Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to the Least-Developed Countries, which existed from October 1997 to December 2006. The second phase of the EIF has started on 1 January 2016 and will last for 7 years.

The United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) is an office of the United Nations Secretariat which deals with the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States. It was founded in 2001 by United Nations resolution 56/227.

The Sopoaga Ministry was the 14th ministry of the Government of Tuvalu, led by Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga. It succeeds the Telavi Ministry upon its swearing in by Governor-General Sir Iakoba Italeli on 5 August 2013.

Fahmida Khatun is a Bangladeshi economist who focuses on policy analysis and project management.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Tembo</span> Zambian economist (born 1961)

Dorothy (Ng’ambi) Tembo is a Zambian economist and trade and development expert. She is the deputy executive director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aid for Trade</span>

Aid for Trade is an initiative by the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as a policy concept in international economic and trade development, concerned with helping developing countries and particularly the least developed countries build trade capacity and infrastructure.

Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) is a unilateral non-reciprocal preferential tariff scheme provided by the Government of India for the least developed countries (LDCs). The scheme was officially introduced on 13 August 2008. India was the first developing country to introduce a preferential tariff program for the LDCs.

References

  1. ↑ "Identification of the least developed among the developing countries" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  2. ↑ "Criteria For Identification Of LDCs". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Development Policy and Analysis Division. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  3. ↑ UN-OHRLLS Criteria for Identification and Graduation of LDCs Archived 2019-07-25 at the Wayback Machine .
  4. 1 2 "LDCs at a Glance". Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 25 May 2008. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  5. ↑ "Doha WTO Ministerial 2001: Briefing Notes Least Developed Countries – Towards free market access for least-developed countries". World Trade Organization.
  6. 1 2 "Graduation from the LDC category". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Development Policy and Analysis Division. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  7. 1 2 "Goal to halve number of LDCs in next 10 years". The Guardian. 2011-05-06. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  8. ↑ Wang, Brian (11 June 2018). "Ten Fewer Least Developed Countries by 2024". nextbigfuture.com. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  9. ↑ United Nations (October 2018). Handbook on the least developed country category : inclusion, graduation, and special support measures (Third ed.). New York. ISBN   978-92-1-104692-2. OCLC   1088728737.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ↑ "Criteria For Identification Of LDCs". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Development Policy and Analysis Division. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  11. ↑ "Least developed countries: UN conference endorses ambitious plan to lift millions out of poverty". The Guardian. 2011-05-13. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  12. ↑ "Public Citizen | Global Trade Watch | Global Trade Watch – Hot Issue June 21 – Study shows WTO's Doha Round proposal would leave many poor countries worse off". Citizen.org. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  13. ↑ "How Hong Kong Empowers Rich Countries to Choke LDCs" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  14. ↑ World Trade Organization, "Moore announces key appointments for development issues", 1999 Press Releases, Press/136, 13 September 1999
  15. ↑ Osakwe, Chiedu, "Are WTO Members wrestling an octopus, did they set their sights too high?", DAC News November–December 2005, Development Assistance Committee, OECD.
  16. ↑ Vasil, Adria. "NOW Toronto: "Roots runs away: Beaver-clad clothier blames feds' Africa trade aid for west-end plant closure" (February 12-19, 2004, VOL 23 NO 24 Vasil)". Stage81.nowtoronto.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  17. ↑ "Goal 14 targets". UNDP. Archived from the original on 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  18. ↑ UN (2021) List of Least Developed Countries (as of 24 November 2021)
  19. ↑ "LDCs at a Glance". United Nations Development Policy & Analysis Division. 2008-05-25. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Also a landlocked developing country
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Also a Small Island Developing State
  22. ↑ "Least Developed Country Category: Bangladesh Profile | Department of Economic and Social Affairs". United Nations. 25 December 2015. Archived from the original on Mar 29, 2024.
  23. 1 2 "It's official and historical – three more countries will graduate from the LDC category". Development Policy & Analysis Division. United Nations. 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  24. ↑ "UN advocate salutes Cape Verde's graduation from category of poorest States". United Nations News Centre. 14 June 2007. Archived from the original on Dec 2, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Samoa To Gain Developing Country Economic Status in January 2014". UN-OHRLLS via Radio Australia . Archived from the original on 2015-10-17. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
  26. ↑ "Least Developed Country Category: Equatorial Guinea Profile". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Development Policy and Analysis Division. 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  27. 1 2 "Vanuatu graduates from least developed country status". United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. 2020-12-04.
  28. 1 2 "Bhutan graduation status". United Nations. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "UN Handbook on the LDC Category" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  30. ↑ ""About Sikkim" from the Government of Sikkim's website". Sikkim.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2009-05-25. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  31. 1 2 3 "Istanbul forum offers chance to recommit to helping world's poorest nations". United Nations. 2011-01-10. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  32. ↑ Ashton, Melanie (20 June 2012). "UN-OHRLLS Announces Samoa to Graduate from LDC Status". IISD's SDG Knowledge. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
  33. ↑ "Equatorial Guinea Graduates from the LDC Category". United Nations. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  34. ↑ Mira Patel (2023-03-13). "How Bhutan graduated from the 'Least Developed Country' status". The Indian Express .
  35. ↑ "Extension of the preparatory period preceding the graduation of Angola from the least developed country category". undocs.org. 2021-02-04.
  36. ↑ Byron, Rejaul Karim; Mirdha, Refayet Ullah (2021-02-28). "Becoming A Developing Nation: Bangladesh reaches A Milestone". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  37. ↑ "U.N. General Assembly graduates Bangladesh, Nepal to developing countries bloc". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  38. ↑ "Nepal braces for graduation from an LDC". UNDP in Nepal.
  39. 1 2 "Countries approaching graduation and already graduated". United Nations .
  40. ↑ Dara, Voun (2022-01-18). "Kingdom on track for LDC graduation". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.