8 – The Gambia (GDP per capita of $488.60)
Next on the list is The Gambia, both one of the African continent’s smallest and The Gambiapoorest nations. With an area of roughly 11,000 square kilometers, and a population of roughly 1.8 million people, The Gambia struggles immensely with trying to make economic leaps forward. Although there are multiple factors to consider, what is likely their biggest hindrance is the lack of diversity within their economic system. The Gambia relies primarily, and almost solely, on farming and fishing to drive their economy. Both of these are incredibly vulnerable to poor weather conditions. It also doesn’t help that the soil fertility of the farming land is typically low, further decreasing both the quantity and quality of seasonal yields. These alone causes several ripple effects towards their economy and the subsequent living conditions that the people of the nation have to endure. With a GDP per capita of $488.60, and over half of the population living well under the poverty line, the people of The Gambia are subject to such a poor standard of living that the nation falls into a “hunger season” when rainfall is at its peak.
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