Classifications used in this report

Unless otherwise specified, in this Report the least developed countries (LDCs) are classified according to a combination of geographical and structural criteria. Therefore, the small island LDCs which geographically are in Africa or Asia are grouped together with the Pacific islands, due to their structural similarities. Haiti and Madagascar, which are regarded as large island States, are grouped together with the African LDCs. South Sudan declared its independence on 9 July 2011, and became both an independent state and a Member of the United Nations on 14 July 2011. Therefore, from 2011, data for South Sudan and Sudan (officially the Republic of the Sudan), where available, are shown under the appropriate country name. For periods prior to the independence of South Sudan in 2011, data for Sudan (former) include those for South Sudan unless otherwise indicated. The resulting groups are as follows:

Related Subject(s): Economic and Social Development