There are numerous failed state indices released every year that rank the countries of the world based on their status in several categories. These include human rights abuses, poverty, and public infrastructure. Today we’re going to take a closer look at 25 of the most failed states in the world.

Eritrea
This small nation in the Horn of Africa has been a dictatorship since its 1993 independence from Ethiopia. Since then it has been in constant military struggle with its neighbor and has terrible scores on human rights and state legitimacy.
Liberia
One of the poorest nations on Earth, it has almost no infrastructure whatsoever. It lacks clean water, telephone service, and even sewage systems. It also has a huge problems with refugees and displacement.
North Korea
According to the FSI or failed state index, North Korea ranks worst on legitimacy of state. Human rights violations are a fact of life and according to various sources nearly 2 million people have died in the last 10 years from starvation alone.
Uganda
Uganda scored lowest on its rapidly increasing demographic pressures as well as numerous sources of socioeconomic instability.
Syria
After two years of civil war Syria is only getting worse.
Burundi
Nearly 90% of the citizens of this small African country live in poverty and its GDP per capita is only $600.
Ethiopia
After Eritrea’s independence in 1993 Ethiopia is now completely landlocked. It’s largely agricultural economy is now riddled with droughts and famines.
Niger
With the highest birthrate on Earth at more than 7 children per woman, this west African country suffers from terrible public services and an inability to feed or educate its youth.
Kenya
Nearly 50% of the population lives in poverty and almost an equal number is unemployed.
Nigeria
Corruption, unemployment, and horrible infrastructure are rampant.
Guinea Bissau
Roughly 70% of the people in this west African country live on less than $2 per day. It has scored terribly on indices of legitimacy of state and factionalized elites.
Guinea
After a series of juntas and coups human rights issues have included numerous acts of torture by security forces and widespread abuse of women and children through acts like female genital mutilation.
Pakistan
With horrendous poverty and debt coupled with Islamic extremism, Pakistan is underdeveloped in numerous areas and has consistently received terrible scores on indices related to security apparatus and vengeance seeking group grievance.
Coite D'Ivoire
With two civil wars in the past 11 years this nation is full of UN peacekeepers and French troops trying to keep the peace.
Iraq
After the US withdrawal in 2011 violence and terrorism continued. This middle eastern nation scored very low on the area of vengeance-seeking group grievance.
Zimbabwe
Headed by a brutal dictator, Robert Mugabe, the inflation is so bad that the government has considered creating a $100 trillion bill.
Central African Republic
With a series of coups d’etat since gaining independence in 1960, this nation scored lowest for refugees and security apparatus.
Haiti
An already failed state was delivered a crushing blow with the 2010 earthquake that rocked the island. After that a cholera epidemic broke out and left the country almost undeniably one of the poorest nations on Earth.
Afghanistan
After numerous years of US and UN led reconstruction Afghanistan got terrible scores for foreign intervention. It has emerged from this phase with weak security forces and an extremely frail government.
Yemen
One of the poorest countries in the Middle East and dominated by Islamic extremists, this nation scored worst on security apparatus.
Chad
At just under 50 years, Chad has the lowest life expectancy in the world. It has almost no public infrastructure and suffers from widespread human rights abuses.
South Sudan
Recently gaining independence from Sudan, it is riddled with land mines and unable to provide basic health care to its population.
Sudan
Thanks to the brutal genocide in Darfur, Sudan was ranked one of the worst nations on Earth in terms of refugees, group grievances, and external intervention.
Congo
Widespread malnutrition, pollution, and disease gave Congo terrible scores in terms of demographic pressures. Hundreds of thousands of people die every year from civil conflicts and nearly half a million women are raped annually.
Somalia
Perpetually war torn and with almost no recognizable government this nation has a life expectancy of just above 50 years and infant mortality rate of 1 out of 5. It received the most abysmal ratings for refugees and human rights violations.