Glossaries

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List of figures

Figure 1	Average annual GDP growth rates in Commonwealth LDCs, 2011-2019 (%)
Figure 2	GDP per capita in Commonwealth LDCs, 2011-2013 vs. 2017-2019 averages (current US$)
Figure 3	Commonwealth LDCs’ performance on the PCI, 2019 value and absolute change in index value, 2011-2019
Figure 4	Electricity consumption per capita in Commonwealth LDCs, 2011-2019 (kWh)
Figure 5	Share of population in Commonwealth LDCs with access to electricity, 2011 and 2019 (%)
Figure 6	Proportion of individuals using the internet in Commonwealth LDCs, 2011 and 2019 (% of total population)
Figure 7	Network coverage and affordability of mobile data in Commonwealth LDCs, 2019 (%)
Figure 8	International internet bandwidth per internet user, averages 2011-2013 vs. 2017-2019 (Kbit/s)
Figure 9	Fixed broadband and mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people, 2011 and 2019
Figure 10	Domestic credit to the private sector in Commonwealth LDCs, 2011-2013 and 2017-2019 averages (% of GDP)
Figure 11	Youth unemployment rates in Commonwealth LDCs, 2011-2019 (% of total labour force)
Figure 12	Informal employment as a proportion of total employment in Commonwealth LDCs, 2019 or latest available year (%)
Figure 13	Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person, three-year averages, 2011-2019 (%)
Figure 14	ECI values and rankings, selected Commonwealth LDCs, 2011 and 2019
Figure 15	Shares of agriculture, industry, manufacturing and services value added in GDP in Commonwealth LDCs, 2019 and percentage point change 2011-2019 (%)
Figure 16	Relative evolution of the manufacturing sector in Commonwealth LDCs, 2011-2019
Figure 17	Shares of agriculture, industry and services in total employment in Commonwealth LDCs, 2011 vs. 2019 (%)
Figure 18	Trend in LDC exports of goods and services, 2011-2020
Figure 19	Changes in Commonwealth LDCs’ shares of global exports between 2011 and 2020, by country (Index 2011=1)
Figure 20	Commonwealth LDCs’ share in global exports, 2011, 2019 and 2020 (%)
Figure 21	Share of goods and services in LDCs total exports during 2011-2020, by region (%)
Figure 22	LDCs’ share in global and intra-Commonwealth merchandise exports, 2011 vs. 2019 (%)
Figure 23	LDCs’ dependence on intra-Commonwealth’s exports, 2019 (%)
Figure 24	The trade and growth nexus in LDCs, 2011-2019 (growth rate %)
Figure 25	Tax revenue as a share of GDP in Commonwealth LDCs, 2011-2015 and 2016-2019 averages (%)
Figure 26	Gross domestic savings as a share of GDP in Commonwealth LDCs, average 2011-2019 (%)
Figure 27	External debt as a share of GNI in Commonwealth LDCs, 2011-2019 (%)
Figure 28	Debt service on external debt in Commonwealth LDCs, 2011-2019 (current US$ million)
Figure 29	Net FDI inflows to Commonwealth LDCs as a share of GDP, 2011-2019 (%)
Figure 30	Broad sectoral distribution of greenfield FDI inflows to Commonwealth LDCs, based on cumulative values of capital investment 2011-2019 (%)
Figure 31	ODA received by Commonwealth countries, 2011-2019 (% of GNI)
Figure 32	Net ODA received per capita by Commonwealth LDCs, 2011–2019, annual average (current US$) and annual average growth (%)
Figure 33	GDP growth rates in Commonwealth LDCs, 2017-2019 average vs. 2020 (%)
Figure 34	Commonwealth LDCs’ global exports during the pandemic, 2019 vs. 2020 (US$ billion)
Figure 35	Changes in Commonwealth LDCs’ exports between 2019 and 2020, by country and region (%)
Figure 36	Differential effects of the pandemic on goods and services exports, 2020 vs. 2019 (% change)
Figure 37	Changes in the value of announced greenfield FDI inflows to Commonwealth LDCs, 2017-2019 average vs. 2020 (US$ million and %)
Figure 38	COVID-19 impacts on greenfield FDI inflows into broad sectors in Commonwealth LDCs, 2017-2019 average vs. 2020 (US$ million and %)
Figure 39	ODA received by Commonwealth LDCs as a share of GNI, 2017-2019 average vs. 2020 (%)
Figure 40	Additional spending or foregone revenues in Commonwealth LDCs since January 2020 (% of GDP)
Figure 41	External debt of Commonwealth LDCs, 2017-2019 average vs. 2020 (% of GNI)
Figure 42	Unemployment rates and changes in Commonwealth LDCs, 2017-2019 average vs. 2020
Figure 43	Working hours lost in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 crisis (%)
Figure 44	Natural disasters in all Commonwealth LDCs, 2011-2020
Figure 45	Orientation of LDCs’ merchandise trade in 2019

List of tables

Table 1	Priority areas in the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries 2011-2020
Table 2	Rank of selected Commonwealth LDCs on the Infrastructure pillar of the GCI, 2011 and 2019
Table 3	Renewable energy electricity capacity (MW) in Commonwealth LDCs, 2011-2019
Table 4	Patent applications made in selected Commonwealth LDCs, annual totals, 2011-2019
Table 5	Commonwealth LDC rankings on the GCI, 2011 and 2019
Table 6	Unemployment rates in Commonwealth LDCs, 2011-2019 (% of total labour force)
Table 7	Total reserves in Commonwealth LDCs as a share of total external debt, 2011-2019 (%)
Table 8	Value of FDI inflows to Commonwealth LDCs, 2011-2019 (US$ million)
Table 9	Announced greenfield FDI inflows to Commonwealth LDCs, value, average growth and jobs created, 2011-2019
Table 10	Migrant remittance inflows to Commonwealth LDCs, 2011–2019, value (US$ million) and average annual growth (%)
Table 11	Personal remittances received in Commonwealth LDCs, 2019 and annual averages 2011-15 vs. 2016-19 (% of GDP)
Table 12	COVID-19 cumulative cases, deaths and vaccinations (as published on 9 December 2021)
Table 13	GDP per capita in Commonwealth LDCs, 2017-2019 average vs. 2020 (current US$)
Table 14	Changes in annual growth of sectoral value added in agriculture, forestry and fishing, manufacturing, industry and services, 2017-2019 average vs. 2020 (percentage point change)
Table 15	Changes in the value of overall FDI inflows to Commonwealth LDCs, 2017-2019 average vs. 2020
Table 16	Migrant remittance inflows (US$ million) and personal remittances received (% of GDP) in Commonwealth LDCs, 2017-2019 average vs. 2020
Table 17	Gross domestic savings as a share of GDP in Commonwealth LDCs, 2017-2019 average vs. 2020
Table 18	Rankings and scores for Commonwealth LDCs on the LPI, 2018
Table 19	Digital and sustainable trade facilitation rate, 2021 (%)
Table 20	Vulnerability status of current and recently graduated Commonwealth LDCs, 2021
Table 21	Examples of benefits foregone by LDCs upon graduation
Table 22	Examples of the impact of natural disasters on Commonwealth LDCs
Table 23	Commonwealth 10-point programme of action for LDCs in summary
Table A1	Selected indicators of progress in other IPoA priority areas, 2011-2020
Table A2	Changes in LDC exports between 2011 and 2020, by region and sector
Table A3	Regional and sectoral distribution of LDC exports, 2019
Table A4	Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Commonwealth LDCs’ exports, 2019-2020

List of boxes

Box 1	Human and social development in LDCs – progress and remaining challenges
Box 2	LDCs’ large reliance on intra-Commonwealth exports
Box 3	The startling socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in LDCs
Box 4	Gender-related impacts of COVID-19 and implications for women’s economic empowerment in Commonwealth LDCs
Box 5	Vulnerability of Commonwealth LDCs to climate change and natural disasters
Box 6	Climate-induced water and food insecurity

Acronyms

AfCFTA	African Continental Free Trade Area
BaTIS	Balanced Trade in Statistics
DAC	Development Assistance Committee
DFQF	Duty-Free Quota-Free
EBOPS	Extended Balance of Payments Services
ECI	Economic Complexity Index
ECOSOC	United Nations Economic and Social Council
EIF	Enhanced Integrated Framework
EM-DAT	Emergency Events Database
EU	European Union
EVI	Economic Vulnerability Index
FDI	Foreign Direct Investment
FNA	Financial Needs Assessment
GCF	Green Climate Fund
GCI	Global Competitiveness Index
GDP	Gross Domestic Product
GNI	Gross National Income
GSP	Generalised System of Preferences
GVC	Global Value Chain
HDI	Human Development Index
ICT	Information and Communications Technology
IFC	International Finance Corporation
ILO	International Labour Organization
IMF	International Monetary Fund
IPoA	Istanbul Programme of Action
LDC	Least Developed Country
LDC5	Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries
LDCF	Least Developed Countries Fund
LPI	Logistics Performance Index
MSF	Médecins Sans Frontières
MSMEs	Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
ODA	Official Development Assistance
OECD	Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
PCI	Productive Capacities Index
RCEP	Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
S&DT	Special and Differential Treatment
SDG	Sustainable Development Goal
SDR	Special Drawing Rights
SIDS	Small Island Developing States
TRIPS	Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
UK	United Kingdom
UNCTAD	United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNESCAP	United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
UNIDO	United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UN-OHRLLS	United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
USA	United States of America
WEF	World Economic Forum
WTO	World Trade Organization

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