What are "Least Developed" countries?

Least developed countries (LDCs) are those countries which have the lowest ratings in terms of their social and economic progress. They are among the world's poorest and most vulnerable countries, with 30 such states as classified by the United Nations. They are typically characterized by weak infrastructure, lack of technological development, poor access to basic services, low levels of literacy, low per capita income, and high levels of poverty. They also tend to experience high levels of inequality, with a disproportionate number of their population living in poverty. These countries are often highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change due to their physical geography, the low competiveness of their economies, and the concentration of their population in agriculturally-dependent sectors.