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Description
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are low-income countries confronting severe structural impediments to sustainable development. They are highly vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks and have low levels of human assets. There are currently 45 countries on the list of LDCs which is reviewed every three years by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP). LDCs have exclusive access to certain international support measures, in particular in the areas of development assistance and trade.
LDCs at a Glance
Countries
45Population (2024)
880M11% of World GDP
Youth population 15-24 years
195M22% of LDC Population
GDP Growth Rate
$1,29814% of World GDP
GDP
$1,29825% of World GDP
Countries in the graduation pipeline (graduating)
3
Bangladesh2026
4/9Criteria
Nepal2026
4/9Criteria
Lao PDR2026
4/9Criteria
Investing in people
Education
Youth Literacy rate
50% Female
60% Male
28%LDCs
86%World
LDC trend 2019–2024
Education completion rate
Tertiary education gross rate (2024)
STEM graduates
Higher education infrastructure
STEM degrees offered by HEIs
Universities per 100k pop. (15–29 yrs)
Health
Life expectancy at birth
67Female (yrs)
63Male (yrs)
LDCs
65 yrs
World
73 yrs
LDC trend 2019–2025
Coverage of essential health services
45%LDCs
86%World
Household expenditures on health (% of total)
14%LDCs
8%World
Maternal mortality ratio
Under-5 mortality rate
Labor market
Labor force participation
58% Female
78% Male
68%LDCs
60%World
Proportion of youth (aged 15–24 years) not in education, employment or training (2024)
32% Female
18% Male
25%LDCs
15%World
Unemployment rate (15-64 years)
Youth unemployment rate (15-24 years)
Women aged 20–24 years who were married or in a union before age 18
Proportion of informal employment
11%LDC
20%World
By gender (LDCs)
8% Female
14% Male
Women empowerment
Proportion of seats held by women in (a) national parliaments and (b) local governments
Proportion of women in managerial positions
Women aged 20–24 years who were married or in a union before age 18
Gender Equality & Legal Frameworks
65.4LDC Average (WBL Index 0–100)
vs 77.1 World avg (gap: -11.7 pts)Regional progress (0–100 scale)
Africa (32)
67.3
Pacific (3)
61.7
Caribbean (1)
60.0
Asia (8)
59.6
LDC avg
65.4
World avg
77.1
Peace and migration
Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population
LDCs under conflict
24of 44
Africa18
Asia5
Caribbean1
Vulnerability and social protection
Population below international poverty line
Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity
Access to safely managed drinking water
Access to safely managed sanitation services
Science, technology and innovation
Proportion of individuals using the Internet
28% Female
86% Male
Cambodia41%
Jamaica22%
Haiti15%
Bangladesh12%
Fiji8%
Internet adoption gap57 percentage point gap
36%LDCs
vs93%High-income
LDCs
High-income
Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, by speed
Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology
5G
41%85%
4G
22%60%
3G
15%30%
2G
12%15%
H+
8%12%
LDCs
World
Price of mobile data broadband basket as a % of GNI per capita
52%LDCs
78%World
Number researcher / Research Expediter / Patent
Researchers
1,234
Research Expenditure
$2.1B
Patents
456
Structural transformation
Proportion of population with access to electricity
12M
Population who don't have access to electricityProportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology
12M
Population who don't have access to clean fuels and technologyManufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP
Proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in total value added
Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption
Electricity generation capacity per capita (2024)
200W/capita
LDCs
200 WWorld
900 WInternational Trade
Least developed countries' share of World exports
Exports
Imports
Share of world exports1.1%
Share of world imports1.3%
Bangladesh42%
Cambodia31%
Myanmar23%
Ethiopia17%
Tanzania14%
Exports & Import structure (%)
Exports
Imports
Weighted average tariffs faced by least developed countries
Total Aid for Trade disbursements to least developed countries (USD, constant 2018 prices)
Climate change, environmental
LDCs that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework
27of 44
61% of LDCs have adopted DRR strategies17 LDCs still without national strategies
By region (adopted / total LDCs in region)
Africa (33)
20 / 33
Asia (8)
5 / 8
Pacific (3)
1 / 3
Caribbean (1)
1 / 1
Deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters
Lost as % of GDP from disaster
International solidarity
Net official development assistance, total and to least developed countries, as a proportion of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee donors' gross national income (GNI)
Gross national income (GNI)
FDI in million
Bangladesh38%
Ethiopia29%
Mozambique24%
Uganda19%
Tanzania15%
Debt service as a proportion of exports of goods, services and primary income
12.8%LDCs
LDCs
12.8%World
6.2%Debt Stock
Debt Service
2.1xvs World
LDCs
12.8%World
6.2%