WASHINGTON, D.C. -Information from the World Bank and the 2011 census produced a list of the poorest countries in the world. In addition to census data; HIV prevalence, mortality rates, government corruption, gross domestic product (GDP), and unemployment rates were also factored into the making of this list. Here are the five poorest countries in the world.
1. Haiti
In Haiti the poverty rate is 77 percent and the unemployment rate is 40.6 percent. Furthermore, 80 percent of the country lives on less than $2 a day. Haiti has suffered losses around 8 billion from the earthquake that hit in 2010 and that has plummeted the economy. Over main factors that contribute to Haiti`s impoverished state are political instability, government corruption, high population growth and little investment in human capital, such as public health spending.
2. Equatorial Guinea
In Equatorial Guinea the poverty rate is 76.8 percent and the GDP is the 99th lowest in the world. This country is also one of the worst countries in the world regarding life expectancy; the average expectancy is 50 years old.
3. Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has a poverty rate of 72 percent, and this is a direct result of the hyperinflation the country went through. The inflation rate reached a high of 231,000,000 percent in 2008 and the economy collapsed. This occurred because the Zimbabwe was too liberally printed. After the hyperinflation the poverty rate rose from 36 percent to 72 percent
4. Congo
Congo has a poverty rate of 71.3 percent. The main reason for Congo’s poverty is government corruption. Congo was also in the middle of a five year war with other countries in Africa that claimed three million lives. Congo also has the second worst primary school enrollment rate in the world and it has extremely high infant mortality rates, 112 out of every 1000 children will die before they turn one.
5. Swaziland
Swaziland has a poverty rate of 69.2 percent. Swaziland also has an AIDS prevalence rate of 25.9 percent, which is the highest in the world. This country also has an extremely low life expectancy, 48 years. The main reasons for Swaziland`s high poverty rates are because as a country they rely too heavily on South African exports and the citizens are very dependent on surviving off their own agriculture, however they have many agricultural problems, such as soil depletion.
– Olivia Hadreas
Sources: NBC News, Economist, BBC, World Bank
Photo: The Richest