How many least developed countries are in africa

It must include achieving clean energy access for all, which will enable the achievement of the Agenda. Increasing energy access will spur catalytic investments, power the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit we see across the continent and bring renewed prosperity to communities.

Download this report English 5. Email Address:. He ordered thousands of shoes, sold them to the locals and became a wealthy man, or so the legend goes. There is an appealing parallel that Cheikh Sidi Diarra , the UN special adviser on Africa and high representative for least developed countries LDCs is willing to draw between this story and the reality of the world's 48 LDCs 33 of which are in sub-Saharan Africa : "Despite the many ills these countries endure, the world needs to start looking at them more as lands of opportunities rather than a burden," he says.

Urging investors to consider nations often associated with endemic poverty, disease and instability as a potential business magnet is a bold invitation. Yet the call is in line with the general tone of an international gathering that Mr. Diarra led in May in Istanbul, Turkey. Since the once-a-decade UN conference has focused on the plight of the world's most vulnerable countries as defined by low per-capita incomes, low standards of living and high vulnerability to economic shocks.

Its aim has been to mobilize international support, including by encouraging developed countries to disburse more aid to LDCs. In the past, much time has been devoted to this issue, pitching advocates of aid against those expected to disburse it. This time, however, talk about aid was not as central as in past meetings. That was in part a result of the budget constraints imposed on rich countries by a frustratingly slow economic recovery from the global downturn.

Also, a growing realization that aid alone cannot solve the fundamental problems LDCs face added to what some see as a welcome shift away from the usual debates. Business people and civil society representatives were in fact among the most noticeable and active of the 9, participants at the five-day Istanbul meeting. Ultimately, the Programme of Action agreed upon in Turkey renewed aid commitments made at the previous conference in Brussels, Belgium, 10 years ago.

Once again donors pledged to devote between 0. Civil society groups in Istanbul criticized that as too little. It is a charge that Mr. Diarra disputed. Despite the talk of aid, the emphasis in Istanbul was on trade, investment and productive capacities. Months before the meeting, trade issues were at the centre of some of the most heated debates among negotiators during the lengthy preparatory talks.

Along with other partners, African LDCs called for the adoption of a long-debated scheme that would allow all their exports to enter developed-country markets without any duties or quotas. Such preferential treatment was considered a step too far by most developed countries, however, even though LDCs' share of world trade currently stands at only 1 per cent. A developed country is one that boasts features such as a developed economy, a stable and functional government, a robust infrastructure, a strong educational system, ample job opportunities, comprehensive health and social services, and a high degree of personal freedom.

Countries that fall slightly short of these goals are classified as developing countries. Those that fall far short are designated the least developed countries and become eligible for specific United Nations assistance programs.

This advanced metric tracks a wide range of indicators, from Adult Literacy Rate and Life Expectancy to Income Inequality and Mobile Phone Subscriptions, then compiles them all into a number between 0.

Five countries have been upgraded between and Botswana Cape Verde Maldives Samoa Equatorial Guinea Show Source. Human Development Index. List of Least Developed Countries as of December