LDC Handbook

This new edition contains updates to LDC criteria and procedures and new information on “smooth transition” provisions for countries graduating from the LDC category and is available in English

The 2024 Country Snapshots compiles the key statistical data used by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) at the 2024 triennial review of the least developed country category. LDCs are defined as low-income countries suffering from structural imp ...

This new edition contains updates to LDC criteria and procedures and new information on “smooth transition” provisions for countries graduating from the LDC category and is available in English, French and Portuguese

Important update - Superseded by the Fifth edition Link to the newest edition: Handbook on the Least Developed Country Category: Inclusion, Graduation and Special Support Measures - Fifth Edition The Handbook on the Least Developed Country Category is ...

The second edition of the Handbook on the Least Developed Country Category: Inclusion, Graduation and Special Support Measures (2015) provides comprehensive information on the least developed country (LDC) category, including a description of procedures and methodologies used in the identification of these countries, and the support measures associated with it. It builds upon and updates the previous edition published in 2008. Accordingly, the LDC Handbook is intended for the use by government officials, policymakers, researchers and others interested in the particular development problems and challenges faced by the most disadvantaged developing countries.

The Committee for Development Policy (CDP) launched today the second edition of the Handbook on the Least Developed Country Category: Inclusion, Graduation and Special Support Measures at a briefing in New York. The Handbook contains a detailed description of the procedures and methodologies used by the CDP in the identification of least developed countries (LDCs), as well as an overview of the international support measures associated with the LDC category. As a supplement to the Handbook, the LDC 2015 Country Snapshots was also presented at the briefing. The Country Snapshots is a compilation of one-page profiles for each of the 48 countries classified as LDCs in 2015 and illustrates the gaps in progress towards the LDC graduation thresholds for each country.

The Committee for Development Policy (CDP) launched today the second edition of the Handbook on the Least Developed Country Category: Inclusion, Graduation and Special Support Measures at a briefing in New York. The Handbook contains a detailed description of the procedures and methodologies used by the CDP in the identification of least developed countries (LDCs), as well as an overview of the international support measures associated with the LDC category. As a supplement to the Handbook, the LDC 2015 Country Snapshots was also presented at the briefing. The Country Snapshots is a compilation of one-page profiles for each of the 48 countries classified as LDCs in 2015 and illustrates the gaps in progress towards the LDC graduation thresholds for each country.