Facts about Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

Aid (official development assistance, or ODA) to LDCs doubled between 1999 and 2004, to a record US$24.9 billion
30% of this increase went to Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Over the same period, net ODA either stagnated or declined in real terms for almost half of LDCs

LDCs' total debt burden increased to a record $158.9 billion in 2003, up $20.8 billion from 2001
Among LDCs which have reached the "completion point" for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC), 60% of debt relief went to Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia
Among LDCs which have reached the "decision point" under HIPC, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has received 65% of the debt relief granted

LDC merchandise exports reached a record $57.8 billion in 2004, up $11.9 billion from 2003
But the four largest oil-exporting LDCs -- Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, and Yemen -- accounted for 56% of that increase
Despite increased exports, LDCs generated only 0.6% of world merchandise exports in 2004

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in LDCs increased to a record $10.7 billion in 2004 -- but that is only 1.6% of world FDI inflows
70% of such investment in LDCs in 2004 went to six oil-rich countries: Angola, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Sudan, and Yemen

Between 1980 and 2003, LDCs as a group averaged 0.7% growth per year
Historically, LDC performance has been erratic, with periods of high growth usually followed by collapses. Between 1980 and 2003, seven out of 40 LDCs for which data is available were able to carry out steady growth, while 12 had severe output losses and subsequently staged recoveries, and 21 suffered severe economic collapses

The decade 2000-2010 will be the first, however, in which the population seeking employment outside agriculture in LDCs will grow more quickly than the population seeking employment within agriculture
Expansion of the services sector of LDCs is largely attributable to an increase in low value-added services (such as retail, wholesale, and gastronomy) rather than advanced commercial services (such as banking and business support) Low value-added services accounted for 60% of total services in LDCs for the period 2000-2003
Increases in industry value-added in LDCs have reflected an expansion of extractive industries (such as oil and minerals) rather than growth in manufacturing. Of a mild increase in manufacturing value-added between 1990-1993 and 2000-2003, half was attributable to Bangladesh
Manufacturing value-added actually declined over that period in 19 of 36 LDCs for which data are available

The labour force in the LDCs grew by 71 million between 1990 and 2000. It is expected to grow by another 89 million by 2010 to a total of 401 million.
Between 1980-1983 and 2000-2003, labour productivity in non-agricultural sectors declined in four-fifths of the LDCs; labour productivity in agriculture increased in two-thirds, but only slightly
The productivity gap between the poorest and the more advanced countries increased. Between 1980-1983 and 2000-2003, labour productivity in LDCs increased by 12%, while in other developing countries it climbed by 55%

In 2002, electricity consumption per capita in LDCs was 7% of the level in other developing countries and 1.6% of the level in OECD countries
In 1999, the length of roads per square kilometer and the length of roads per capita in LDCs were about half the level of other developing countries, and one-fifth the level of OECD countries
In 2003, telephone mainlines and fixed mobile phones per 1,000 people in LDCs were 11% of the level in other developing countries and 3% of the level in OECD countries

• In recent years, only 6% of the population aged 20-24 in LDCs was enrolled in tertiary education, compared with 23% in other developing countries and 57% in OECD countries. The share of engineering enrolment within tertiary enrolment in LDCs is just over half the level of other developing countries

• In 2001, technical and vocational education constituted only 2.6% of total secondary enrolment in the LDCs on average, as against 10.4% in developing countries and 25% in OECD countries

• The average years of schooling of the adult population in LDCs in 2000 was 3 years -- less than the level in other developing countries in 1960