Every individual country has its own standard of living: somewhere it’s quite high, while elsewhere it’s very low. Many of us can’t even imagine how many people living in such countries are below the poverty line. According to the UN, about 25,000 people die from hunger every day on the planet, with the majority of them being children.
About a billion people in the world are forced to live on $1 a day, and another 2.5 billion – on $2. Due to perpetual lack of money, the inhabitants of these countries have learned to literally survive, using their modest finances as efficiently as possible. So, let’s move on to the list of the 5 poorest countries on the planet:
Eritrea (Eastern Africa) – GDP $707 per year.
Capital – Asmara
Borders – Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti
Currency – Eritrean nakfa
Area – 121,100 sq. km
Population – 5,798,000 people.
Also one of the poorest countries on the planet. For many years, it was a colony of Italy, and in the middle of the last century, it was annexed to Ethiopia. After that, Eritrea was engulfed in a war for independence, which lasted 30 years and almost completely destroyed the country’s economy.
Eritrea could have become a worthy competitor to Greece or Egypt, as it had everything for successful tourism development – catacomb cities, stunning nature, and historical landmarks. But, unfortunately, the military actions did not pass unnoticed – the historical heritage was almost completely destroyed.
80% of the population is engaged in agriculture, mainly livestock farming and fishing. The country suffers from a catastrophic shortage of drinking water, so intestinal infections are not uncommon here. Another serious problem in Eritrea is illiteracy. Only 60% of the population is literate.
Liberia (Western Africa) – GDP $703 per year.
Capital – Monrovia
Official language – English
President – former footballer, winner of the Golden Ball George Weah
Currency – Liberian dollar
Area – 111,370 sq. km
Population – 5,099,000 people.
The country has experienced two civil wars, which claimed a huge number of human lives and almost completely ruined the economy.
Before the wars, Liberia was considered a relatively developed country – there was an export of diamonds, timber, and coffee. Now, unemployment thrives here, with the average citizen’s budget being around $1 a day. One of Liberia’s sources of income is fees received from foreign trading ships for the right to use the Liberian flag. Almost all banking and industrial companies are owned by foreigners who control foreign trade.
The country suffers from a severe shortage of clean drinking water, streets are rarely cleaned, and there is unsanitary conditions and dirt everywhere.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Central Africa) – GDP $648 per year.
Capital – Kinshasa
Official language – French
Currency – Congolese franc
Area – 2,345,409 sq. km
Population – 89,900,000 people.
In 2012, this country was recognized as the poorest in the world. And it should be noted that almost nothing has changed to this day. More than 70% of the population still suffers from hunger.
Until 1960, the country was under Belgian rule, after which it gained independence. But the long-awaited event did not make life any easier for the local residents – Congo was shaken by civil wars and endless uprisings.
Practically all able-bodied population is engaged in agriculture, the mechanization level of which leaves much to be desired – people still work with hoes and shovels.
Congo is one of the last places on the planet where you can still encounter cannibal tribes. Eating one’s own kind here is one way to survive. The population exceeds 70 million people, 5% of whom are HIV-positive. Local residents firmly believe that the disease can be defeated if they manage to spend a night with a virgin. For this reason, it is very dangerous for women to live in Congo – rape is not uncommon.
Republic of Burundi (Eastern Africa) – GDP $642 per year.
Capital – Gitega
Official languages – Kirundi, French, and English
Currency – Burundian franc
Area – 27,830 sq. km
Population – 13,103,723 people.
Burundi is a small state located in East Africa. The population is just over 13 million people. It can confidently be said that this country is one of the poorest in the world. Frequent wars have led Burundi to such dire straits. Nearly half of the state’s territory is occupied by arable land, and another third by pastures. The majority of the population is engaged in agriculture, with almost no industry developed here.
Due to a severe shortage of medical workers and medicines, outbreaks of dangerous diseases often occur, resulting in many deaths. Burundi has only one university, and over 50% of the population are illiterate.
There are no railways here, and owning a car is a huge luxury. Mobile phones are also rare. Out of 1000 people, only 20 own a cell phone, and only 5 have a computer.
The Central African Republic (CAR) has a GDP of $542 per year.
Capital – Bangui
Official languages – Sango, French
Currency – Central African CFA franc
Area – 622,984 sq. km
Population – 5,379,985 people.
According to IMF data, the CAR is currently the country with the lowest standard of living. Thus, it is the poorest country in the world. The state gained notoriety thanks to its leader, Jean-Bédel Bokassa, who ruled the CAR from 1966 to 1979.
A cruel ruler who proclaimed himself emperor, he kept the population in constant fear and demanded complete obedience. Moreover, according to numerous testimonies, Jean-Bédel Bokassa was caught practicing cannibalism – he consumed opposition leaders he found displeasing.
After the “emperor” was overthrown, the CAR has constantly experienced coups, inevitably accompanied by destruction and shootouts. Banditry is widespread in the country, with criminal groups controlling all business spheres. As a result, a normal economy has never developed in the CAR. The treasury is mainly filled through agriculture and logging. Selling car parts is also practiced, but almost all the income is taken by officials.
Tourists who have visited this country agree that living there is simply impossible. It is rare to see a road with a solid surface, and people travel by river on makeshift boats made from tree trunks. Many people are forced to live on the streets. In this country, people consume anything possible for food, from insects to monkeys.
Interestingly, the CAR is far from being a poor country in terms of potential. Impressive reserves of diamonds, oil, and gold are concentrated here. However, unfortunately, the local government is not interested in developing the country’s economy.