12. Eritrea
> GNI per capita, 2011: $1,610
> GDP, 2011: $2.07 billion (#29 lowest of 214 countries)
> Avg. life expectancy at birth, 2021: 66.5 years (#55 lowest of 194 countries)
> Population growth, 2023 est.: 1.1% (#87 highest of 237 countries)
> Population, 2021: 3,620,312
Eritrea, located in the Horn of Africa, has a diverse geography, but it is a largely agrarian economy with a significant mining sector. The country faces human rights challenges such as political repression, limited freedom of expression, and compulsory national service, which contribute to high levels of poverty and limited economic opportunities. Because of data integrity challenges, Eritrea’s GNI per capita is from 2011.
11. Malawi
> GNI per capita, 2021: $1,610
> GDP, 2021: $12.63 billion (#75 lowest of 214 countries)
> Avg. life expectancy at birth, 2021: 62.9 years (#34 lowest of 194 countries)
> Population growth, 2023 est.: 2.3% (#31 highest of 237 countries)
> Population, 2021: 19,889,742
Situated in Southern Africa, Malawi’s economy relies on agriculture, with a focus on tobacco, tea, and sugar exports. The country confronts numerous development challenges, including widespread poverty, food insecurity, limited access to health care and education, and poor infrastructure. It also faces environmental issues such as deforestation and climate change impacts.
10. Madagascar
> GNI per capita, 2021: $1,570
> GDP, 2021: $14.47 billion (#82 lowest of 214 countries)
> Avg. life expectancy at birth, 2021: 64.5 years (#43 lowest of 194 countries)
> Population growth, 2023 est.: 2.2% (#34 highest of 237 countries)
> Population, 2021: 28,915,653
Despite its rich biodiversity and natural resources, Madagascar faces high levels of poverty, deforestation, and inadequate infrastructure. Limited access to education and health care hampers its development progress. The economy of the island country, lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, relies on agriculture, particularly vanilla.
9. Chad
> GNI per capita, 2021: $1,510
> GDP, 2021: $11.78 billion (#71 lowest of 214 countries)
> Avg. life expectancy at birth, 2021: 52.5 years (#1 lowest of 194 countries)
> Population growth, 2023 est.: 3.0% (#10 highest of 237 countries)
> Population, 2021: 17,179,740
Chad, situated in Central Africa, has the lowest life expectancy at just 52.5 years. The country grapples with political instability, frequent droughts and desertification, poverty, and regional armed conflicts. It faces challenges in poverty reduction, education, health care, infrastructure development, and high population growth. Though the northern part of the landlocked country is covered in desert, the country has significant oil reserves and is an important transit route for regional trade.
8. Liberia
> GNI per capita, 2021: $1,470
> GDP, 2021: $3.51 billion (#41 lowest of 214 countries)
> Avg. life expectancy at birth, 2021: 60.7 years (#21 lowest of 194 countries)
> Population growth, 2023 est.: 2.7% (#16 highest of 237 countries)
> Population, 2021: 5,193,416
Liberia, located on the west coast of Africa, has a unique historical significance as one of the few African countries founded by freed slaves, but it continues to recover from a long history of civil wars, which left its infrastructure and institutions severely damaged. Liberia has significant natural resources, including rubber and timber. However, the country faces challenges related to poverty reduction, education, and health care and experienced a bad recession prior to COVID-19 due to the ebola epidemic.
