10 Key Facts About the World’s Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)

Key Impact Points:

• 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) house over 500 million people, or 7% of the global population.
• LLDCs face double the trade costs of coastal nations and have only 1.1% of global merchandise exports.
• Nearly 215 million people in LLDCs live with limited or no electricity access.

Geographic Disadvantages Limit Trade

On average, LLDCs are 1,370 kilometres from the nearest port, making it harder to join global markets. Enhanced connectivity and digital infrastructure are essential to reduce trade barriers and tap into e-commerce opportunities.

Heavy Reliance on Aid and Imports

Over a third of LLDCs are in or near debt distress, relying heavily on aid for infrastructure and development. Limited access to private capital and declining foreign investments highlight the need for affordable finance and stronger domestic resource mobilization.

Barriers to Finance, Markets and Technology

With insufficient resources, technical expertise, and infrastructure, LLDCs face nearly double the trade costs of coastal countries. Their share in global merchandise exports stands at just 1.1%, underscoring the need for trade facilitation and South-South cooperation.

Energy Access Lags Behind

Eleven LLDCs are not on track to meet SDG 7 – universal access to affordable and clean energy by 2030. Many have electrification rates below 50%, with some as low as 27% for clean cooking access. Around 215 million people still lack reliable electricity.

High Climate Vulnerability

About 54% of LLDCs’ land is dryland, prone to desertification, drought, and degradation. Mountainous LLDCs face melting glaciers, water shortages, biodiversity loss, and landslides.

Challenges in Managing Natural Resources

Structural constraints and lack of coastlines force LLDCs to depend heavily on agriculture, mining, and forestry — sectors vulnerable to environmental degradation and global market volatility.

Extractive Industries Drive Economies

Mineral wealth underpins many LLDC economies, supporting exports, jobs, foreign investment, and public revenues. Without seaports, minerals are a crucial trade lifeline.

Underfunded Health Systems

Health spending in LLDCs is far below the global average of 9.94% of GDP, limiting service delivery and slowing improvements in life expectancy compared to neighbouring nations.

Weak Digital Connectivity

Only 35% of LLDC residents have internet access, far below the 66% global average. While most have mobile network coverage, less than half can access 4G — critical for digital trade and development.

Dual Vulnerability for Half of LLDCs

Sixteen LLDCs are also least developed countries, compounding challenges from geographic isolation, economic fragility, and external shocks. These nations require sustained growth and social investment to move out of LDC status.