5 things you need to know about the world s least developed countries

The document defines Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as 46 nations with the lowest socioeconomic indicators, primarily located in Africa. It highlights their extreme vulnerability to climate change and economic shocks despite minimal contributions to carbon emissions. The text outlines the Doha Programme of Action as a roadmap for sustainable development and notes the role of the LDC5 conference in mobilizing international support to help these nations achieve Sustainable Development Goals and eventually graduate from LDC status.

• There are 46 Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the majority of which are in Africa, characterized by a gross national per capita income (GNI) below USD$1,018 and low scores in health, nutrition, literacy, and school enrolment.
• LDCs are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters despite having contributed the least to carbon emissions; a projected warming of 2.7°C this century would be devastating for these nations.
• Economic instability is a critical issue for LDCs, with 16 countries at high risk of debt distress and four specifically classified as being in debt distress: Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, and Sudan.
• The Doha Programme of Action (DPoA), agreed upon in March 2022, serves as a development roadmap focusing on six areas, including poverty eradication, structural transformation, international trade, and building resilience against climate change and future shocks.
• Between 1994 and 2020, six countries successfully graduated from LDC status: Botswana, Cape Verde, Maldives, Samoa, Equatorial Guinea, and Vanuatu.

APA

Nations, U. (2023). 5 things you need to know about the world s least developed countries. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/sustainable-development/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-world-s-least-developed-countries/

Chicago

Nations, United. 5 things you need to know about the world s least developed countries. World Economic Forum, 2023. https://www.weforum.org/stories/sustainable-development/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-world-s-least-developed-countries/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Nations |first1=United |title=5 things you need to know about the world s least developed countries |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=7 March 2023 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/sustainable-development/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-world-s-least-developed-countries/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{nations2023things, author = {Nations, United}, title = {{5 things you need to know about the world s least developed countries}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/sustainable-development/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-world-s-least-developed-countries/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }