UNCTAD | Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

Since 1971, the United Nations has recognized least developed countries (LDCs) as a category of States that are deemed highly disadvantaged in their development process, for structural, historical and also geographical reasons.

LDCs face more than other countries the risk of deeper poverty and remaining in a situation of underdevelopment. More than 75 per cent of the LDCs' population still live in poverty.

These countries are also characterized by their vulnerability to external economic shocks, natural and man-made disasters and communicable diseases. As such, the LDCs are in need of the highest degree of attention from the international community.

Currently, the 47 LDCs comprise around 880 million people, 12 per cent of the world population, which face severe structural impediments to growth. However, the LDCs account for less than 2 per cent of world GDP and around 1 per cent of world trade.

Four United Nations Conferences on the LDCs were held in: 1981, 1990, 2001 and 2011. The Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries adopted the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 - the so-called Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA).

News

19 November 2019World's poorest countries should take a leading role in directing external aid to development

For the least developed countries to attain the Sustainable Development Goals, they should take ownership of their development agenda and manage the allocation of external development finance in alignment with their national development priorities.

23 October 2019Lao PDR on track to meet Least Developed Country graduation criteria for a second time

UNCTAD in collaboration with the Government of Lao PDR and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office for Lao PDR organised a workshop to discuss the vulnerability profile for Lao PDR.

07 May 2019UNCTAD, Mauritius open fisheries regional centre of excellence

Centre will bring together experts, researchers and policymakers from least developed countries and other African and Asian countries to develop their fisheries sectors.

22 January 2019Learning to scale fisheries for better livelihoods

Least developed countries are finding out from Viet Nam how fisheries sector opportunities can transform their economies.

20 November 2018World's poorest countries must nurture dynamic businesses

UNCTAD's Least Developed Countries Report 2018 examines how the world's most disadvantaged countries can foster entrepreneurship to create jobs and help end poverty.

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Events and Meetings

Start Date	Title	Location	Country
25-28 Feb 2020	Capacity building training on statistical, methodological and computational aspects of the Productive Capacities Index of Rwanda	Kigali	Rwanda
19 Feb 2020	Productive capacities and structural transformation – On the road to LDC V, Group of the Least Developed Countries, Ambassadorial-level retreat	Geneva	Switzerland
19 Nov 2019	Launch of the Least Developed Countries Report 2019
08-10 Oct 2019	National Workshop on the Vulnerability Profile of Lao PDR and Building Resilience through Fostering Productive Capacities and Structural Economic Transformation	Vientiane	Lao People’s Democratic Republic
03 Jul 2019	Towards a new trade policy on market access for Cambodia: Identifying a positive agenda among challenges and opportunities	Geneva	Switzerland