51³Ô¹Ï

Previous Triennial Reviews and Graduation Decisions

2024 Triennial Review

At its , the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) recommended that Cambodia, Djibouti and Senegal graduate from the list of least developed countries with a five-year preparatory period.

The CDP deferred its decision on a possible recommendation for graduation of the Comoros and Myanmar to the 2027 triennial review. It also found that Angola, Timor-Leste and Zambia no longer met the graduation criteria and are thus not eligible for graduation.

Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania fulfilled the criteria for graduation for the first time and will be considered for graduation at the next triennial review in 2027.

As for Kiribati and Tuvalu, the CDP found that the two countries continue to be eligible for graduation, surpassing the income and human assets index thresholds by wide margins, while continuing to show a very high degree of vulnerability in the economic and environmental vulnerability index.

In its , ECOSOC endorsed the recommendation of the Committee that Cambodia and Senegal graduate from the list of least developed countries, with a five-year preparatory period to effectively prepare for graduation. The Council recommended that the Assembly decide that the graduations of Cambodia and Senegal become effective five years after the Assembly takes note of the recommendations to graduate these countries.

ECOSOC decided to defer the graduation of Djibouti, Kiribati and Tuvalu to a later date, on an exceptional basis, allowing the Council an opportunity for further consideration of the particular challenges the three countries face.

 

2021 Triennial Review 

At its triennial review in February 2021, the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) recommended that Bangladesh, Lao PDR and Nepal be graduated from the LDC category. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, it considered an extended preparatory period of five years as necessary.

The CDP also reiterated its recommendations to graduate Kiribati and Tuvalu from the category. Given the limited planning capacities and the necessity of both countries to incorporate impacts of COVID-19, the Committee considered an extended preparatory period of five years as necessary for a smooth transition.

In relation to Myanmar and Timor-Leste, the CDP decided to defer consideration of their graduation to 2024.

Five countries met the thresholds for the first time (Cambodia, Comoros, Djibouti, Senegal and Zambia) and will be considered at the next triennial review in 2024 for graduation, if they still meet the thresholds a second time.

The is available.

In its , ECOSOC endorsed the recommendation of the CDP on the graduation of Bangladesh, Lao PDR and Nepal after an extended five-year preparatory period as those countries would need to prepare for graduation while planning for a post-COVID-19 recovery and implementing policies and strategies to reverse the economic and social damage incurred by the COVID-19 shock.

ECOSOC also noted that, should the General Assembly decide on a five-year preparatory period, the Committee would analyse at its 2024 triennial review whether this period has been adequate to manage the effects of COVID-19 and make any recommendation, including on whether a further extension would be necessary.

As for Kiribati and Tuvalu, ECOSOC recognized the unprecedented socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic and decided to defer the consideration of their graduation to 2024.

In of 11 February 2021, the General Assembly decided to provide Angola, on an exceptional basis, with an additional preparatory period of three years before its effective date of graduation.  

On 24 November 2021, the UN General Assembly () decided that Bangladesh, Lao PDR and Nepal be graduated, and decided to provide the three LDCs, on an exceptional basis, with a five-year preparatory period leading to graduation.

 

2018 Triennial Review 

At its triennial review in March 2018, the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) declared Bhutan,?S?o Tom¨¦ and Pr¨ªncipe?and?Solomon Islands?eligible for graduation for the second consecutive time. They were therefore recommended to ECOSOC for graduation from the list of LDCs. 

On 13 December 2018, the UN General Assembly () decided the following:? 

  • Bhutan will graduate in December 2023, after a five-year preparatory period; 

  • Solomon Islands will graduate in December 2024, after a six-year preparatory period; 

  • S?o Tom¨¦ and Pr¨ªncipe will graduate in?December 2024, after a six-year preparatory period. 

 

Nepal?and?Timor-Leste?were found eligible for the second consecutive time, but were not recommended by CDP for graduation, due to concerns about the sustainability of their development progress. The Committee decided to defer a decision on the graduation of Nepal and Timor-Leste at the 2021 triennial review.  

Bangladesh,?Lao People¡¯s Democratic Republic?and?Myanmar were found eligible for graduation by CDP for the first time at the 2018 triennial review. 

Furthermore, CDP found Kiribati to be eligible for graduation for the third consecutive time.?ECOSOC decided to defer the consideration of the graduation of Kiribati and Tuvalu to its 2021 session due to their special vulnerabilities. 

For further information on the 2018 triennial review, see the?. 

Equatorial Guinea?graduated from the category the LDC category on 4 June 2017, following a transition period of three and a half years after the adoption by the 51³Ô¹Ï General Assembly of resolution .? 

 

2015 Triennial Review 

At the?2015 triennial review, Angola met the criteria for graduation for the second consecutive time. The Committee recommended Angola for graduation from the LDC category. ECOSOC endorsed that recommendation () and the General Assembly () decided that Angola would graduate out of the LDC category after a five-year period in February 2021. 

The Committee also noted that Kiribati met both the Income and Human Asset Index criteria for the second consecutive time. However, the Committee did not recommend Kiribati for graduation due to its extreme high vulnerability and decided to defer consideration to its 2018 session. As measured by the Economic Vulnerability Index, Kiribati is the most vulnerable country in the world.? 

Additionally,?five countries met the eligibility criteria for graduation for the first time: Bhutan, S?o Tom¨¦ and Pr¨ªncipe?, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste and Nepal. 

Regarding Tuvalu, which had been recommended for graduation in 2012, the Committee noted its high vulnerability and requested to the international community to provide Tuvalu with adequate technical assistance and concessional financing to address climate change. ECOSOC decided to defer the consideration of Tuvalu's graduation to 2018 to allow the Council ¡°to have an opportunity for further consideration of the particular challenges that Tuvalu faces¡±.? 

Vanuatu, which had been?found eligible for graduation in 2006, 2009 and 2012, was recommended for graduation in the 2012 triennial review. The General Assembly () decided to grant an additional preparatory period of one year before the start of the three-year preparatory process and invited the country to prepare its national smooth-transition strategy, with the support of the 51³Ô¹Ï system and in cooperation with its bilateral and multilateral development and trading partners.  

For further information on the 2015 triennial review, see the?.