Progress in the implementation of the priority areas of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020 (Istanbul Programme of Action)

The present report reviews progress made by least developed countries in achieving the Program of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020 (Istanbul Program of Action), which aimed to enable half of the least developed countries to meet the criteria for graduation by 2020. As of 2020, 46 countries were classified by the United Nations as least developed countries, of which 33 (70 per cent) were African countries. For a country to be eligible for graduation, it must attain at least two of the graduation threshold levels in two consecutive reviews. To date, three African countries – Botswana (1994), Cabo Verde (2007) and Equatorial Guinea (2017) – have graduated from least developed country status. Sao Tome and Principe is expected to graduate in 2024, while Angola has requested yet another postponement of graduation. The non African least developed country graduates are Maldives (2011), Samoa (2014) and Vanuatu (December 2020).