Inclusion in the LDC category

Note: No new countries have been included in the LDC category since 2012

Identification of Eligible Countries

The CDP reviews the list of LDCs and makes recommendations for inclusion in and graduation from the category every three years
These recommendations are not exclusively based on the criteria scores, complementary country-specific information and the views of the government are also taken into account
The inclusion thresholds, as determined by the CDP, must be met for each of the three criteria (GNI per capita, HAI and EVI) in one triennial review

Gross National Income (GNI) per capita	Human Assets Index (HAI)	Economic Vulnerability Index (EVI)
$1,088 or below	60 or below	36 or above

			January expert group review		CDP Preliminary finding: country satisfies inclusion criteria

					DESA Notifies the country of preliminary finding

			Between the expert group review and the triennial review		DESA Prepares a country assessment note and provides a draft to the country

					Country Presents a written statement (optional), indicating approval of or objection to the inclusion

			March triennial review		CDP Finds the country eligible

					DESA Formally notifies the country of eligibility conclusion

					CDP Submits to ECOSOC the recommendation to include the country, unless the country formally expresses objection

			After the March triennial review		ECOSOC Endorses the CDP recommendation

					Country Formally notifies the Secretary-General of its acceptance

					General Assembly Decides to take note of the CDP recommendation

			Country immediately becomes an LDC and is formally added to the list

Corroborates the basis of eligibility findings with statistical evidence
Incorporates other relevant information such as recent economic and social conditions