Top 10 Poorest Countries In The World

Poverty is something that is unfortunately common in today’s world. From homeless people in American cities, to starving children in Africa, poverty is something that people can not avoid no matter how hard they try.

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Even if one has the money to live a good life, there is no getting away from the organizations and foundations who are asking for extra money to help out the less fortunate. You could say no and walk away, however the guilt stays within you as you go about your day.

Poverty affects people on a personal level and grows into creating countries that are suffering from poverty. So which countries are the poorest in the world of 2013? Take a glance at the list below to see which countries need your help.

10. Afghanistan: Annual Income $1,100

010Afghanistan

Afghanistan is located in South, Central Asia and is a landlocked nation. It is the 41st largest nation with about 650,000 km of land and the 42nd most populous with a population of just over 30 million. The people of Afghanistan average annual income is only $1,100, which is the tenth lowest in the world, and has an unemployment rate of over 35%. One of the main reasons the country is so poor is due to all of the wars that have been fought internally and the lack of outside investments. Afghanistan is also the most dangerous country to live in and visit. Recently, the Afghanistan economy is starting to show a slight rise since refugees are returning home.

9. Niger: Annual Income $771

09Niger

Niger is located in Western Africa and is a landlocked country. With a landmass of over 1,270,000 km it is the 22nd largest country and has a population over 17,129,000. The average income is $771 a year. Over 80% of the land area is covered by the Sahara desert. The largest income in Niger is from crops, which include rice, cowpeas and onions, livestock which includes camels, goats, sheep and cattle, uranium and gold. With a drop in the use of uranium, the economy has continued to slide. Add to this the lack of rain for the crops, and over population confined to the small amount of land that is livable, and it is easy to see why this country is one of the poorest in the world.

8. Burundi: Annual Income $625

08Burundi

Burundi is located in Eastern Africa and is a landlocked country. It has an area of 27,834 km, which makes it the 145th country in size, and has a population of 8,749,000 which ranks it 89th. With an average annual income of $625 per person, Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world; mainly due to the lack of education, lack of economic freedom and a poor legal system. Over 80% of the population lives below poverty level with famines, food shortages and AIDS running rampant. Income in Burundi comes from crops such as cotton, tea, corn, sorghum sweet potatoes and bananas, or from raising cattle. Mining is also a source of income and includes uranium, nickel, cobalt, copper, and platinum.

7. Zimbabwe: Annual Income $589

07Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is located in Southern Africa and is a landlocked country. It has an area of 390,757 and is 60th in size of all countries and it has a population of 12,970,000 which is ranked 72nd. With a per capita income of $589, Zimbabwe is one of the two poorest countries in the world. Men have a life expectancy of 37 years and women only 34 years which is the lowest in the world. Income is mostly from harvesting trees such as teak and mahogany. The over harvesting of the trees is causing many concerns. Mining is also a way of life for gold, platinum and diamond. Tourism was a main source of income but that has been declining lately and the unrest in the area is not getting any better.

6. Eritrea: Annual Income $546

06Eritrea

Eritrea is located in the Horn of Africa, which is in Northeast Africa and borders the Red Sea. With a land area of over 117,600 km it is 107th in size of country and has a population of over 6 million which ranks it 107th. Most of the workers are in mines, which produce copper, gold, granite, marble and potash. They have an average income of $546 a year. The main reason for the problems in Eritrea can be found in the history of the Eritrean-Ethiopian War which was responsible for over $600 million in land damages and about $220 million in loss of livestock; add to that the loss of over 55,000 homes and it is easy to see where the main problems started. Currently, Eritrea is working hard to rebuild it homes, roads and livestock.

5. Madagascar: Annual Income $500

05Madagascar

Madagascar is an island located in the Southeast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. It is the fourth largest island in the world. The population is well over 22 million and it is the 47th largest country with over 592,000 km of land. Madagascar is populated with a unique wildlife consisting of over 90% of the animals found nowhere else. This diversity of animals, and native plants, is one of the reasons for Madagascar’s large amount of tourism. The large population is slowly taking over the wildlife population and causing problems in their ecosystem. People in Madagascar have an average annual income of less than $500 a year.

4. Liberia: Annual Income $436

04Liberia

Liberia is located on the West African coast and is boarded by the North Atlantic. It has over 111,000km acres which is 103th of all countries and has a population of almost 3.5 million, which makes it rank 130th. The average annual income is $436 per person and with most of the workers involved in iron, diamond mines or in growing and harvesting of timber, rubber, cocoa and coffee. Since 2011 Liberia is one of the top 20 fasting growing countries in the world due to their working on improvement of infrastructures, transportation cost and improved relations with nearby countries in an effort to raise their income and better the living conditions of the people.

3. Central African Republic: Annual Income $300

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Central African Republic is an apt name because it is located in Central Africa and is a landlocked country. With land area of 620,000 km it is 45th in size and has a population of over 4,400,000 which makes its 124th. Central African Republic depends on the sales of it crops for income which includes cotton, corn, sorghum, millet, sesame, plantain and cassava. The average income for the people is only about $300 a year. Most of Central African Republic is savannas and forest; therefore, making it very hard to cultivate but the use of the Ubangi River for shipment of crops has helped raise the hope of the people that life will improve if the internal battling for control of the government stops.

2. Malawi: Annual Income $253

02Malawi

Malawi is formerly known as Nyasaland and is located in southeastern Africa; a completely landlocked country. Malawi is just over 118,000 km making it 99th largest in size and with almost 16,500,000 people it is 64th largest in population. The population changes all the time due to the high death rate from HIV/AIDS, very poor living conditions and a very high infant mortality. The largest amount of income for the working class is from agriculture which includes tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn and potatoes. These workers have an average income of only $253 a year.

1. Democratic Republic of Congo: Annual Income $236

01Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo is located in Central Africa and is landlocked except for a small area that reaches the Atlantic Ocean. It has a land area of 2,345,409 km which is the 11th largest in the world and a population of over 75,000,000 which is 19th. Congo has an average annual income of $236; which is the second smallest in the world. Congo has the richest mining sites of diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium bauxite, iron, coal and radium and about 70% of all coltan in the world, most of which is not being mined. It is estimated that over $20 trillion in minerals are in the mines of Congo. This plus a missing $88 million owed to Congo from mining companies from other countries and the poverty of this country could be eliminated.

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