Low-Income Countries 2024 (2024)

Low-income countries are those which have the weakest economies when evaluated by the World Bank, an international coalition of countries dedicated to reducing poverty around the world. As part of its work, the World Bank analyzes the economic health of each of the world's countries and territories based upon their gross national income (GNI) per capita. The countries and territories are then divided into four categories, titled World Bank Country Lending Groups, from low income to high income, whose boundaries are adjusted each year to reflect global inflation.

2022-2023 World Bank Country Lending Group guidelines (all values USD):

Countries Classified as Low-Income Countries (2023 World Bank):

AfghanistanGuinea-BisseauSierra Leone
Burkina FasoLiberiaSomalia
BurundiMadagascarSouth Sudan
Central African RepublicMalawiSudan
ChadMaliSyria
DR CongoMozambiqueTogo
EritreaNigerUganda
EthiopiaNorth KoreaYemen
GambiaRwandaZambia
Guinea

Low-income countries are often synonymous with underdeveloped countries, also known as developing countries, emerging markets, or newly industrialized countries. Wealthier countries and/or international aid organizations often give low-income countries financial aid to help boost and support their economic, political, social, and environmental development. This may come in the form of bilateral aid, which is given directly from the donor country to another, or multilateral aid, which is given to international organizations such as World Bank and United Nations agencies such as UNICEF, which distribute aid to developing countries.

As the poorest countries in the world, low-income countries face struggles relating to a struggling or underdeveloped economy, a low human development index (HDI), and reduced quality of life. Issues related to poor economic health include below-average life expectancy, high infant mortality rates, poor educational outcomes, substandard infrastructure, degrading environmental and climate conditions, and inferior healthcare systems. Many low-income countries suffer high rates of malnutrition, as well as illnesses and infections due to lack of clean water, low sanitation levels, and inadequate access to quality medical care.

Gross national income (GNI) explained

GNI per capita is the dollar value of a country's final income, or GNI, divided by its population. A country's GNI is based upon the gross domestic product (GDP), which measures the value of all the goods and services produced within the country's physical territory. However, GNI then adds any profits earned overseas by a country's citizens, and finally subtracts any profits earned within the country's borders by foreign companies or investors (which are therefore contributions to another country's economy). GNI is often used interchangeably with gross national product (GNP), a very similar, but slightly older metric.

The World Bank computes GNI using a specific technique, known as the Atlas method,. The Atlas method enables accurate and stable comparisons by converting each country's GNI into U.S. dollars using official exchange rates carefully designed to accommodate for market fluctuations. Each exchange rate is the average rate for the past three years, adjusted for differences in inflation between the country and the Euro area, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

GNI may also be computed and displayed using alternate algorithms, such as a purchasing power parity (PPP) model that uses fictional international dollars (INT$). Due to variations in computation methods and the fact that INT$ and USD are different monetary units, the resulting data sets are likely to differ greatly depending upon the method chosen. However, parallel country-to-country differences will likely appear across all data sets.

Note: Data displayed is for 2022-23 financial year. Values display 2021 data with the exceptions of Afghanistan (2020), Eritrea (2011), South Sudan (2015), Syria (2018), and Yemen (2020)

Low-Income Countries 2024 (2024)

FAQs

Low-Income Countries 2024? ›

For the current 2024 fiscal year, low-income economies are defined as those with a GNI per capita, calculated using the World Bank Atlas method, of $1,135 or less in 2022; lower middle-income economies are those with a GNI per capita between $1,136 and $4,465; upper middle-income economies are those with a GNI per ...

Which of the following countries are low-income countries? ›

List of Low-Income Countries
  • Afghanistan.
  • Bangladesh.
  • Benin.
  • Burkina Faso.
  • Burundi.
  • Central African Republic.
  • Chad.
  • Comoros.

What qualifies as a low income country? ›

For the current 2024 fiscal year, low-income economies are defined as those with a GNI per capita, calculated using the World Bank Atlas method, of $1,135 or less in 2022; lower middle-income economies are those with a GNI per capita between $1,136 and $4,465; upper middle-income economies are those with a GNI per ...

Which countries are lower middle-income? ›

Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC)
  • A. Afghanistan. Algeria. Angola. Antigua and Barbuda. ...
  • B. Bangladesh. Belize. Benin. ...
  • C. Cabo Verde. Cambodia. Cameroon. ...
  • D. Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Democratic Republic of the Congo. Djibouti. ...
  • E-F. Ecuador. Egypt. El Salvador. ...
  • G. Gabon. Gambia. Ghana. ...
  • H. Haiti. Honduras.
  • I. India. Indonesia. Iran.

Is Mexico a low income country? ›

Mexico is an upper middle income country focused on manufacturing goods and free trade agreements with around 40-50 countries. It has 2.458 trillion dollars in GDP (purchasing power parity) making it the 15th largest economy in the world. It is a member of the OECD, NAFTA, APEC, WTO, and the G20.

What are 5 low-income countries? ›

Download Table Data
CountryGNI per Capita (Atlas method, current US$) FY2024GNI per Capita (PPP, INT$) FY2024
Burkina Faso$850$2,440
Uganda$930$2,640
Rwanda$930$2,730
Yemen$1,000$3,710
21 more rows

What is the poorest country in the world? ›

By continent or region
  • Somalia.
  • South Sudan.
  • Sudan.
  • Tanzania.
  • The Gambia.
  • Togo.
  • Uganda.
  • Zambia.

Is Jamaica a low income country? ›

Jamaica At-A-Glance

It is an upper middle income country but struggles with low growth, high public debt and many external shocks which weaken its economy...

Is America considered a Third world country? ›

The United States, Canada and their allies represented the "First World", while the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam, and their allies represented the "Second World". This terminology provided a way of broadly categorizing the nations of the Earth into three groups based on political divisions.

Is China a low income country? ›

China is now an upper-middle-income country.

Is Egypt a low income country? ›

According to the World Bank Country Classification, Egypt has been promoted from the low income category to lower middle income category. As of 2013, the average weekly salaries in Egypt reached E£641 (approx. US$92), which grew by 20% from the previous year. The reform program is a work in progress.

Is Ireland a low income country? ›

In terms of GDP per capita, Ireland is ranked as one of the wealthiest countries in the OECD and the EU-27, at 4th in the OECD-28 rankings. In terms of GNP per capita, a better measure of national income, Ireland ranks below the OECD average, despite significant growth in recent years, at 10th in the OECD-28 rankings.

Is the US a high income country? ›

For example, the United States has a GNI per capita of over $70,000, while the GNI per capita in some low income countries is less than $1,000. High income countries also tend to have much higher levels of human development than other countries.

Is Mexico a 3rd world country 2024? ›

Mexico is third world because it is non-aligned. First World = NATO aligned countries. Second World = Warsaw Pact Aligned Countries. The term second World is not used often anymore, but first world basically means it is similar to a NATO nation in that it is wealthy, good governance, etc.

Is USA a first world country? ›

Examples of first world countries include the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Several Western European nations qualify as well, especially Great Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Scandinavian countries. The ways that first world countries are defined can vary.

Is Turkey a middle income country? ›

It also ranked as the 11th-largest in the world and 5th-largest in Europe by PPP in 2023. According to the IMF, as of 2022, Turkey had an upper-middle income, mixed-market, emerging economy. Turkey has often been defined as a newly industrialized country since the turn of the 21st century.

What are high and low-income countries? ›

Countries with less than $1,035 GNI per capita are classified as low-income countries, those with between $1,036 and $4,085 as lower middle income countries, those with between $4,086 and $12,615 as upper middle income countries, and those with incomes of more than $12,615 as high-income countries.

Which 3 4 countries have the lowest level of income inequality? ›

Top 10 Countries with the Lowest Income Inequality (Gini %):
CountryGini Coefficient - World Bank
Norway22.7
Slovakia23.2
Slovenia24.0
Belarus24.4
6 more rows

Is USA a high or low income country? ›

Download Table Data
CountryLending GroupGNI per Capita, PPP 2022 (current INT$)
United StatesHigh77,950
Faroe IslandsHigh
DenmarkHigh77,370
QatarHigh110,050
76 more rows

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Greg Kuvalis

Last Updated:

Views: 5304

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Greg Kuvalis

Birthday: 1996-12-20

Address: 53157 Trantow Inlet, Townemouth, FL 92564-0267

Phone: +68218650356656

Job: IT Representative

Hobby: Knitting, Amateur radio, Skiing, Running, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Electronics

Introduction: My name is Greg Kuvalis, I am a witty, spotless, beautiful, charming, delightful, thankful, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.