Top 11 Countries With the Poorest Men in the World

Have you ever wondered which country has the poorest men in the world? If yes, then keep reading, because we’ve got you covered.

You know, poverty is a major global issue that impacts millions of people, including men. It’s a condition in which a person cannot afford the basic needs of life like food, shelter, and education.

While poverty knows no gender, different causes in particular parts of the world can disproportionately affect men.

In our previous blog post, we’ve written about the richest men in the world. In this blog post, we’ll look at the countries with the poorest men in the world and the factors that contribute to their condition. Now, without wasting much time, let’s get right in.

Top 11 Countries with the Poorest Men in the World

Poverty is a persistent global issue that impacts millions of individuals worldwide, with men often having heightened vulnerability in some locations.

While poverty knows no gender, there are some regions where men face greater hardship due to some factors and in this section, we will take a look at those regions so, keep reading.

1. South Sudan

South Sudan is located in East Africa and is bounded to the north by Sudan, to the east by Ethiopia, to the southeast by Kenya, to the south by Uganda. Also, the Democratic Republic of the Congo borders it on the southwest, while the Central African Republic borders it on the west.

South Sudan is a nation born out of conflict, it has one of the world’s greatest poverty rates, with nearly 82% of its population living below the poverty line.

The nation’s economy has been devastated by civil strife and ethnic division. The continuous conflict has led to massive displacement, food scarcity, and disruptions to essential services.

In this grave situation, men frequently encounter significant obstacles in getting permanent jobs, making it incredibly difficult for them to provide for their families.

2. Burundi

The second country on our list of countries with the poorest men in the world is Burundi.

Burundi is an East African country that is bounded to the north by Rwanda, to the east and south by Tanzania, and to the west by the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Burundi is a nation plagued by political instability and a frail economy, with a poverty rate of roughly 65%. Burundi’s economic issues have a significant impact on men’s livelihoods.

High levels of poverty result in limited access to education and healthcare, which further compounds the difficulties faced by men in this country.

3. Central African Republic

This country is located in Central Africa and is bounded to the north by Chad, to the northeast by Sudan, to the east by South Sudan, Cameroon to the west and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the east.

The Central African Republic is marked by political instability and a lack of vital infrastructure. Because of this, it is afflicted by great poverty, with approximately 71% of its population living in poverty.

Men in the Central African Republic suffer disproportionately as a result of the country’s difficult economic conditions, limited employment opportunities and persistent insecurity.

4. Somalia

Somalia is located in the Horn of Africa and is bounded to the west by Ethiopia, to the northwest by Djibouti, to the north by the Gulf of Aden, to the east by the Indian Ocean, and to the southwest by Kenya.

Somalia is a country racked by prolonged conflict and political insecurity. It is one of the world’s poorest, with nearly 70% of its inhabitants living in poverty.

Men and women are both affected by widespread poverty; nevertheless, men frequently suffer the burden of being the primary breadwinners, increasing their susceptibility in an environment of persistent war and instability.

5. Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC]

The DRC is located in Central Africa and shares borders with several nations, including Uganda to the east, Rwanda and Burundi to the south, Tanzania to the southeast, and to the west is the Republic of the Congo.

Despite its huge natural resources, the Democratic Republic of the Congo faces significant economic instability. Men suffer the brunt of the economic hardships, with the poverty rate hovering around 71%.

High unemployment rates, combined with restricted access to education and healthcare, make it difficult for men to get regular income.

6. Mozambique

Mozambique is a country in southeastern Africa with an Indian Ocean coastline to the east. It shares land borders with South Africa to the south, Zimbabwe to the west, Zambia to the northwest, Malawi to the north, and Tanzania to the northeast.

Mozambique faces economic challenges compounded by natural disasters and conflicts. Poverty affects approximately 46% of the population.

Men in Mozambique often find themselves in precarious employment situations with limited job opportunities, limiting their ability to reliably provide for their families.

7. Niger

The seventh on our list of countries with the poorest men in the world is Niger. It is a landlocked country in West Africa, bordering to the north by Algeria, to the northeast by Libya, to the east by Chad, to the south by Nigeria, to the southwest by Benin, to the west by Burkina Faso, and to the northwest by Mali.

Niger has a poverty rate of roughly 42%, owing to high birth rates and inadequate resources. Men in Niger usually struggle to secure consistent income due to a lack of career options, resulting in economic instability and increase in the rate of poverty.

8. Malawi

Malawi is located in Southeastern Africa and is bounded to the northeast by Tanzania, to the east, south, and southwest by Mozambique, to the west by Zambia, and to the southeast by a small portion of Mozambique near Lake Malawi.

Despite the fact that Malawi has made progress in some sectors, they continue to experience high levels of poverty, affecting approximately 51% of its population

Men in Malawi are primarily employed in agriculture, which is especially vulnerable to climate change.

The volatility in agriculture directly impacts men’s income stability, making the country one of the countries with the poorest men in the world.

9. Chad

Chad is located in North Central Africa and is bounded to the north by Libya, to the east by Sudan, to the south by the Central African Republic. Additionally, Cameroon and Nigeria border it on the southwest, and Niger borders it on the west.

Chad’s economy is primarily reliant on oil, making it vulnerable to changes in global oil prices. Men in Chad face significant unemployment rates with a poverty rate of roughly 44%. They have very little access to decent education, further complicating their economic prospects.

10. Liberia

Liberia takes the ninth spot on our list of countries with the poorest men in the world.

Liberia is located on Africa’s west coast, with the Atlantic Ocean to the south and southwest. Sierra Leone to the northwest, Guinea to the north, and Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to the east.

Liberia faces numerous challenges on its path to development. Men in Liberia face severe economic hardship, with a poverty rate of around 54%. They often struggle to find permanent employment.

This economic hardship makes it difficult for them to provide constant assistance for their families.

11. Nepal

Nepal is a landlocked South Asian country bordered to the north by China (Tibet) and to the south, east, and west by India.

Although the country has made strides in recent years, poverty persists, particularly in rural areas. Approximately 25% of Nepal’s population lives in poverty.

Men in Nepal are frequently involved in agriculture, which is vulnerable to climate-related disturbances, threatening their livelihoods and economic stability.

Now that you have known the countries with the poorest men in the world, let’s look at the factors that contribute to the high rate of poverty among the men in these countries.

Factors Contributing to Poverty among men

There are a lot of factors contributing to the high rate of poverty among men in most underdeveloped countries, and we will discuss them in detail in this section.

Here are the factors contributing to poverty among men;

Civil wars

Ethnic

Sactaria

Strife

Inflation

Corrupt governments and historical colonization

Natural disasters and climate conditions

Civil wars, ethnic, and sectarian strife

Civil wars and internal conflicts have a terrible effect on the economy and people of a country.

You know, when there’s war, infrastructure is destroyed. They damage infrastructure, drive away investments, and cause population displacement.

It’s important to note that ethnic or sectarian tensions frequently fuel civil wars, worsening social and economic instability.

As businesses collapse and fundamental services become scarce, these disputes make it difficult for people, particularly men, to find stable employment opportunities.

Inflation

Inflation reduces people’s purchasing power and might raise the cost of living.

Global wars, such as the conflict in Ukraine, can disrupt the supply chain, particularly for important commodities such as food and energy. This, in turn, adds to increased prices, which disproportionately affect the poor.

Men suffer the burden of these economic issues because they are responsible for providing for their families.

Corrupt governments and historical colonization

Corrupt governments divert funds away from critical services such as healthcare and education. Funds that should be invested in poverty alleviation programmes are often syphoned off by corrupt officials

Historical colonization also plays a vital role since it can have long-term effects on the economic structures and political stability of many countries. Colonial legacies can also hinder a nation’s growth and perpetuate poverty.

Natural disasters and climate conditions

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, and wildfires can have devastating economic consequences, particularly in vulnerable areas.

Climate change aggravates these problems by increasing the frequency and severity of natural disasters. These occurrences frequently result in food shortages, displacement, and economic instability.

In such conditions, men’s ability to care for their families is severely harmed, keeping them in poverty cycles.

Metrics for Measuring Poverty

Now, here are the metrics used in measuring the rate of poverty in the countries above.

GDP per capita and its significance

Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is a popular indicator for evaluating a country’s economic performance. It denotes a country’s total economic production divided by its population.

A high GDP per capita may imply a relatively prosperous country, but it does not provide an accurate picture of wealth distribution.

A high GDP per capita can coexist with high levels of poverty among specific segments of the population, notably men, in nations with severe income disparity.

Purchasing power parity (PPP)

The purchasing power parity (PPP) metric modifies GDP per capita figures to account for differences in living costs between countries.

It gives a more accurate picture of individual purchasing power by taking into account how much a person’s income can buy in their geographical region.

PPP adjusts for differences in pricing and living standards across regions, allowing for an assessment of the true impact of income on people’s lives.

This statistic is critical for determining the genuine economic well-being of people and families, particularly poor males.

Conclusion

Now you have it; “top 11 countries with the poorest men in the world”. As you can see from the blog post, poverty remains a global issue that affects men differently in different parts of the world.

It is critical to understand the numerous variables that contribute to poverty and the efforts being made to relieve it.

Education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for men are critical to breaking the cycle of poverty and enhancing their quality of life.

FAQs

Which regions have the highest poverty rates for men?

Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are two regions with high rates of male poverty.

What is the main reason behind the high poverty rates in African countries?

Political instability, conflicts, economic underdevelopment, and limited access to education and healthcare are all factors contributing to high poverty rates in African countries.

Why are men particularly affected by poverty in many regions?

Men are typically disproportionately affected by poverty because of their historic roles as primary breadwinners.