Recent economic trends

The real GDP of the LDCs as a group grew by an annual average of 4.5 per cent over the three years from 1997 to 2000. This represents an improvement over the period 1990–1996, when LDCs grew at an annual average of 2.8 per cent, and it compares favourably with the average of 3.3 per cent for other developing countries (table 1). The overall growth rate of the LDCs during the late 1990s is somewhat lower when Bangladesh, which accounts for about a quarter of the economic size of the LDC group, is omitted. But excluding Bangladesh, the increase in the real growth rate between 1990–1996 and 1997– 2000 is actually greater — from 2.0 per cent to 4.2 per cent per annum. The improvement in the overall growth rate is particularly marked in African LDCs.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Affordable and Clean Energy

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions