8.) Malawi – $893.84
As of 2004, 54% of Malawians lived under the poverty line on less than $1 a day. This was tempered by the fact that in December 2000 the IMF and a number of individual donors stopped distributing aid within the region due to concerns over corruption. Malawi has since however begun receiving aid again from the IMF’s Heavily Indebted Poor Countries programme; as well as through the Millennium Challenge Corporation from the United States. Agriculture and services make up a huge chunk of GDP, accounting for 35% and 46% respectively. Another issue faced by the country is a shortage of foreign exchange which led to Malawi being unable to pay for some imports. This was due to investment falling by 23% in 2009.
7.) Niger – $853.43
The economy of Niger is not helped by the fact that 80% of the country’s land mass is taken up the Sahara Desert. The country has also suffered greatly from political instability and an inequality deeply entrenched into Niger society. After electing a new government in 2000 the country was forced to accept enhanced debt relief from the International Monetary Fund under their Highly Indebted Poor Countries programme. This was due to the fact the Niger treasury was quite literally empty.
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