Table of Contents
The Top 10 Poorest Countries in the World are countries that suffer from extreme poverty. While some countries on this list have seen some improvement in their economic stability, others are still struggling to find a way out of the poverty trap. Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world and its standard of living has dropped dramatically in the last 20 years.
Burundi is the poorest country in the world
With a high population growth rate and little available land, Burundi is among the poorest countries in the world. 
This situation puts a large proportion of the population at risk of hunger and malnutrition. 90% of the Burundian population lives off subsistence farming. Land division and redistribution have reduced crop yields and left many with overworked plots. Children are particularly affected by malnutrition and lack of access to clean water. Reproductive health services are also lacking, preventing the reduction of both maternal and infant mortality.
Eritrea is the 9th poorest country in the world
The government of Eritrea has limited freedom of speech, assembly, and association.
In 2001, it shut down private print media. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented journalists’ arrests and religious persecution. The country was classified as a Country of Particular Concern by the US State Department. As of 2005, only the International Committee of the Red Cross was permitted to operate in the country.
South Sudan is the poorest country in the world
South Sudan is one of the world’s poorest countries. 
According to the World Bank, 66% of the population lives on less than $2 a day. The majority of the country’s population lives in rural areas and relies on agriculture for a living. Most of this farming is subsistence farming.
Guinea Bissau-Guinea is the 25th poorest country in the world
Guinea-Bissau is one of the world’s poorest countries, with the lowest GDP per capita and lowest Human Development Index.
The country’s economy depends primarily on agriculture, with cashew nuts, groundnuts, and fish among the most important exports. However, a long period of political instability has weakened the economy and caused social and economic imbalances.
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world
Niger is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region, with roughly 80% of its territory covered by the Sahara Desert.
Most of its population lives off of small-scale agriculture, but the country is threatened by climate change and desertification. Consequently, food insecurity is a major problem in Niger, and disease rates are also high. The country has also suffered from conflicts and conflict-related violence. While its economy is based on the extraction of valuable natural resources, it has been affected by low commodity prices.
DR Congo is one of the 25th poorest country in the world
DR Congo was once one of the most industrialized nations in Africa,
but today the country suffers from poor infrastructure and the impact of the Congolese civil war. The country was also the site of the Rwandan Genocide, which resulted in the deaths of millions of mostly Tutsi people.
DR Congo has limited natural resources
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has enormous mineral reserves,
but very little of them is exploited, despite the country’s high levels of poverty and depletion of other natural resources. Despite the high potential for mining, the country’s small, locally owned companies have only limited access to markets abroad.
Niger relies heavily on agriculture
The agricultural industry in Niger is inadequate to supply the needs of the country’s population,
which relies on subsistence farming, herding, small trading, seasonal migration, and informal markets. During recent years, severe droughts and floods have sparked famine in the country.
Guinea Bissau-Guinea has an authoritarian regime
While the constitutional provisions of Guinea-Bissau’s constitution ensure freedom of assembly and association,
the country has been characterized by an authoritarian regime. Although there is a constitutionally-established superior council of magistrates, which is composed of elected judges, the Supreme Court is appointed by the president and has no independence. Judges report poor working conditions and lack of security, particularly when involved in politically sensitive cases. In addition, state security forces intimidate political leaders and harass journalists.
