Exploring the Economic Realities: The 10 Poorest Countries in Africa

The majority of people, even in the poorest country in Africa, strive to avert poverty. Poverty is something that affects individuals in practically every nation. Tragically, in many impoverished African nations, it’s extremely hard to escape poverty.

These are the top ten poorest countries in Africa.

In this list, we have ranked these nations based on their GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita, which is the total economic output of the nation divided by its population.

Also included is each nation’s GNI (Gross National Income) per capita, which is the amount of money per person that remains in the nation after deducting the value of all the commodities and services the nation generates.

Burundi (GDP $727, GNI $210)

Burundi experienced turmoil in the 1990s, when its Hutu majority committed genocides against its Tutsi minority, much like its neighbour Rwanda.

Burundi is small, landlocked, heavily populated, and resource-poor, much like its neighbour Rwanda. But compared to its neighbour Rwanda, Burundi has a far smaller economy.

Businesses that were considering investing in Burundi to benefit from its willing labour have been deterred by the country’s lack of legal protection for investments. 

Central African Republic(GDP $823, GNI $510)

Religious conflict and civil strife have lasted for decades in the Central African Republic. The country’s government has largely only had control of the capital for the past 20 years, and in 2013, a rebel group even took control of the city.

People from Central Africa have been forcibly evicted from their homes and placed in refugee camps before being forcibly evicted again. 

Lawlessness, sickness, and a lack of infrastructure damage the economy even though UN peacekeeping troops have restored some stability to the nation since 2016 and the World Bank has invested in small company development.

Democratic Republic of Congo (GDP $843, GNI $550)

The largest nation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and about the size of Western Europe, is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is blessed with extraordinary natural resources, including the second-largest rainforest in the world, cobalt and copper minerals, the potential for hydropower, a sizable amount of arable land, and a vast amount of wildlife. 

In DRC, the majority of the population has not profited from this prosperity. A serious, ongoing humanitarian crisis is the result of a protracted history of violence, political upheaval and instability, and authoritarian governance. There have also been population shifts that were forced.

DR Congo is one of the world’s five poorest countries. 60 million Congolese, or approximately 62% of the population, were estimated to be subsistence farmers in 2022. About one in six SSA residents who are in extreme poverty is a DRC resident. 

Somalia (GDP $888, GNI $310)

Extreme poverty, armed conflict, and bloodshed are now all associated with Somalia. Its largest industry is cattle farming, and about 43% of the population subsists on less than USD 1 per day.

But in recent years, the situation has improved to the point where foreign businesses are investing in Somalia to produce hallel meat for consumption in bordering nations, restoring living standards to those of the early 1990s. 

A large portion of the country depends on remittances sent home by Somali immigrants.

Niger(GDP $1213, GNI $540)

With the election of Mahomed Bazoum as president in 2021, Niger witnessed its first peaceful transition of power. Unfortunately, Boku Haram and the Islamic State’s forces are encircling the recently stable nation.

Additionally, Niger, which has a record-high birth rate and a protracted drought that puts more than 2 million of its people in danger of hunger, is the world’s poorest country according to the United Nations Development Index. 

The United Nations claims that Niger cannot feed itself, even in a good year.

Malawi (GDP $1234, GNI $500)

More than 70% of Malawians are living below the $1.90 per day UN poverty line. This reality is further complicated by the fact that the majority of Malawians work in the country’s agricultural sector, which is frequently affected by floods and droughts.

Farmers aren’t able to afford tractors or fertilizer. Only 11 to 18 per cent of the farm’s maximum production is produced, according to the World Bank, on its modest 0.8 acres (0.3 hectares) plot in Malawi. Making matters worse, Malawi’s stunning Lake Chilwa has largely dried up, eliminating employment for 7,000 fishermen.

Mozambique (GDP $1331, GNI $460)

Despite the $871 difference between GDP and GNI, Mozambicans do not receive the majority of the country’s income.

To focus on recovering from the theft of $2 billion in loan monies intended to support its poor economy, Mozambique has requested troops from neighbouring African countries to battle its Islamic insurgency.

Also important is what Mozambique has done to protect its elephant herds. The precious elephants have undergone a mutation that prevents the development of tusks in young elephants, preventing poachers from killing them.

Liberia (GDP $1413, GNI $530)

Former American slaves sought shelter in Liberia when it was established in the 1820s. A woman-led government that repaired the roads, schools, and hospitals that had been decimated during the conflict brought an end to the country’s horrifying civil war.

However, the country is now forced to deal with its significant economic issues on its own after the end of international aid programs in 2017 and the Ebola pandemic in 2014.

South Sudan GDP ($1420, GNI $1090)

The Republic of South Sudan has one of the least developed economies in the entire globe. Both infant mortality and female illiteracy are among the highest in the world in this country. Over 40% of its population is under the age of 14, making it one of the youngest countries in the world.

Additionally, a variety of mineral resources are available there, including oil, gas, iron, chromium, tungsten, copper, gold, silver, and diamonds.  

90% of South Sudan’s population lives on less than $1 per day, despite the country’s average daily per capita income of $3.20 US.

Sierra Leone (GDP $1608, GNI $1670)

Both the civil war and the Ebola pandemic have wreaked havoc on Sierra Leone, like their neighbour Liberia. Similar to Liberia, but more frequently, mudslides have struck Sierra Leone. Rice is the primary crop grown for subsistence by about two-thirds of the people.

The only one of the poorest nations in Africa with a GNI that is higher than its GDP is Sierra Leone. To support their relatives that remain in the nation, Sierra Leonean ex-pats can send substantial sums of money.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic and periodic illness outbreaks like cholera, measles, and Ebola have significantly increased poverty levels in Africa.

Through programs in health, energy, and other social services, the World Bank is assisting the poorest African nations and their citizens in reducing poverty and raising their standard of living.