
When discussing the poorest countries in Africa, it's important to clarify how "poverty" is measured. Economists and development organisations often rely on metrics such as Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita (often adjusted for purchasing power parity, PPP), and the Human Development Index (HDI). GNI/GDP per capita: These figures represent the average income or economic output per person. Low figures typically indicate widespread material deprivation. Human Development Index (HDI): Developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the HDI offers a broader perspective by combining life expectancy at birth, average and expected years of schooling, and GNI per capita.
This table provides a list of the poorest countries in Africa despite the billions of $s in international aid invested in Africa over the past few decades. Data taken from a number of sources and all estimates are approzimate.
| Country Name | % of Population Living in Poverty |
|---|---|
| Zambia | 86 |
| Chad | 80 |
| Liberia | 80 |
| Sierra Leone | 70 |
| Mozambique | 70 |
| Nigeria | 70 |
| Swaziland | 69 |
| Zimbabwe | 68 |
| Burundi | 68 |
| Niger | 63 |
| Comoros | 60 | Rwanda | 60 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 54 |
| Senegal | 54 |
| Malawi | 53 |
| Madagascar | 50 |
| Kenya | 50 |
| South Africa | 50 |
| Eritrea | 50 |
| Colombia | 49 |
| Lesotho | 49 |
| Cameroon | 48 |
| Guinea | 47 |
| Burkina Faso | 46 |
| Djibouti | 42 |
| East Timor | 42 |
| Cote d'Ivoire | 42 |
| Angola | 41 |
| Mauritania | 40 |
| Sudan | 40 |
| Ethiopia | 39 |
| Benin | 37 |
| Papua New Guinea | 37 |
| Mali | 36 |
|
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