The17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations are intended to solve a wide variety of socio-economic and environmental issues by 2030, including within Africa. However, the level of progress varies, depending on which African country you find yourself.
In 2020, The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) predicted that $1.3 trillion would be needed in gross financial needs for Africa to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
Consequently, using the UNECA’s estimate of $1.3 trillion in gross requirements, the net funding gaps to satisfy Africa’s demands range from around $194 billion (as reported by the AU-OECD) to over $470 billion.
The report also points out that the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, which stopped the planet in its tracks, has seriously impeded progress.
While there are 12 sustainable development goals (SDGs), the first SDG (SDG1) focuses on the eradication of poverty.
This goal has only been met by three African countries, the rest are relatively far from the intended result.
With that said, here are the 10 African countries with the most severe poverty rate.
Top 10 African countries with the least progress against poverty in 2024
| Rank | Country | SDG1 index scores |
|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Burundi |
0.0 |
|
2. |
South Sudan |
0.0 |
|
3. |
Malawi |
0.0 |
|
4. |
Mozambique |
3.2 |
|
5. |
Central African Republic |
3.2 |
|
6. |
Madagascar |
4.2 |
|
7. |
Democratic Republic of Congo |
8.2 |
|
8. |
Zambia |
9.9 |
|
9. |
Somalia |
11.3 |
|
10. |
Niger |
12.8 |
