21. Lesotho
Life expectancy at birth (in years): 53.1
Mean years of schooling: 6
Gross national income per capita: $2,700
Political instability and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has hurt the country’s development.
20. Democratic Republic of Congo
Life expectancy at birth (in years): 59.2
Mean years of schooling: 7.0
Gross national income per capita: $1,076
Political conflicts and instability, combined with high rates of various diseases and illnesses, have stunted the growth of DCR’s economic stability.
19. Gambia
Life expectancy at birth (in years): 62.1
Mean years of schooling : 4.6
Gross national income per capita: $2,172
Gambia is very dependent on re-exports and tourism, which means that it has a very narrow economic base.
18. Togo
Life expectancy at birth (in years): 61.6
Mean years of schooling: 5.0
Gross national income per capita: $2,167
While urbanization has increased, the manufacturing sector has not developed proportionately, with the country also being impacted by Germany ending its development cooperation with Togo in 1993.
17. Benin
Life expectancy at birth (in years): 59.8
Mean years of schooling: 4.3
Gross national income per capita: $3,409
Cotton makes up 70% of Benin’s exports, so the country’s economy is highly dependent on commodity prices.