During the last half-decade, the Fund for Peace has been putting together the Failed States Index, using a battery of indicators that determine how stable (or unstable) a country is. As a result, we have taken the top 60, or should we say worst 60 Failed Countries of the World.
But as much as we admire the stats and numbers there is no better way but as the photos that demonstrate the degree of failure of a country. The best test is the simplest one, which is that you’ll only know a failed state when you see it.
And these photographs captured by the all seeing eye of the camera are, as they seem, true postcards from hell. As an example, we’ll make a rough start with country No.1: Somalia.
Hint: Click on image to see the larger version
1. SOMALIA
Somalia has topped the Failed States Index for the last three years — a testament not only to the depth of the country’s long-running political and humanitarian disaster, but also, to the international community’s inability to find an answer. After two decades of chaos, the country is today largely under the control of Islamist militant groups, the most notorious and powerful of which is al-Shabab. A second faction, Hizbul Islam, rivals the former in brutality — it recently executed two Somalis for the crime of watching the World Cup. Off the coast, pirates such as the men pictured here torment passing ships, often holding them hostage for a high price. In 2009, Somali pirates earned an estimated $89 million in ransom payments.
2. CHAD
Chad’s troubles are often written off as spillover from the conflict taking place in next-door Darfur, Sudan. But this central African country has plenty of problems of its own. An indigenous conflict has displaced approximately 200,000, and life under the paranoid rule of Chadian President Idriss Déby is increasingly miserable. Déby has arrested opposition figures and redirected humanitarian funding to the military in recent years. Matters might soon get worse as the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the country’s east, where the bulk of the refugees reside, begins to depart on July 15. Pictured here, local Chadians in the village of Dankouche struggle to share scarce resources such as firewood with a nearby Sudanese refugee camp.
this top is a total BS. i really can’t imagine what kind of an illiterate ignorant person must one be to make something like this. and furthermore, really.. moldova? lol.. then why not say the entire eastern europe is failed??
This list is not all right. Rwanda is and allways will be one of the biggest economical improvements! Rich in food and crops, the people never starve. The gen*cide does not mean it failed as a country!
There is a difference between a failed state and a collapsed state. A failed state is one which people cannot afford a minimum standard of descent living such as health care, education,clean drinking water etc..56 percent of kenyans live under the poverty level of US$2 a day == failed state
It seems the vast majority of these countries is either ‘black’ or ‘Muslim’ or both (with the most extreme cases being both).
In my opinion, traditional Islam cripples a nation´s productivity because it makes people ‘pray all day’ and ‘look if others are doing the same’ – there´s simply no time to work and engineer and think on your own.
And the black nations – who knows…
I’m a Kenyan and very proud to be a Kenyan. Honestly I doubt the criteria used to define countries as failed or, or not. Would we have considered britain as failed when they had- maybe still have- the Irish Problem? America when they had their civil war, or when they were devastated be Hurricane Katrina?. Or does it mean any country that is not like the west is a failed state. The person posting this should try just a little objectivity.
i don’t agree with this list
You forgot Mexico. The U.S. State Dept. says it’s #2 on the list of countries most likely to collapse from within and descend into anarchy. Who’s #1 you ask? Our terror war ally and nuclear armed jihadist sponge, Pakistan. Pleasant dreams my friends.
You put pictures of countries here that are supposable bad – yet many of the pictures show nothing.
Namely these:
http://www.chilloutpoint.com/images/2010/07/postcards-from-hell/large-images/postcards-from-hell-52.jpg
Thats just a happy crowd
http://www.chilloutpoint.com/images/2010/07/postcards-from-hell/large-images/postcards-from-hell-43.jpg
Soldiers digging – Other countries have soldiers, don’t they?
http://www.chilloutpoint.com/images/2010/07/postcards-from-hell/large-images/postcards-from-hell-42.jpg
Look wonderful
http://www.chilloutpoint.com/images/2010/07/postcards-from-hell/large-images/postcards-from-hell-40.jpg
OMG – A policeman, what are we to do?
http://www.chilloutpoint.com/images/2010/07/postcards-from-hell/large-images/postcards-from-hell-35.jpg
More soldiers – these countries really have to do something about these guys
http://www.chilloutpoint.com/images/2010/07/postcards-from-hell/large-images/postcards-from-hell-34.jpg
Oh no – working class people
http://www.chilloutpoint.com/images/2010/07/postcards-from-hell/large-images/postcards-from-hell-31.jpg
That actually looks fun
http://www.chilloutpoint.com/images/2010/07/postcards-from-hell/large-images/postcards-from-hell-29.jpg
Two soldiers and a street – O_o
http://www.chilloutpoint.com/images/2010/07/postcards-from-hell/large-images/postcards-from-hell-61.jpg
They have water trenches – and children – Call the UN!!!!
http://www.chilloutpoint.com/images/2010/07/postcards-from-hell/large-images/postcards-from-hell-61.jpg
Crumby apartments – Ok
http://www.chilloutpoint.com/images/2010/07/postcards-from-hell/large-images/postcards-from-hell-27.jpg
Oh sh*t – those are graves!!!!!
Ok, will stop there – hope you get the point
What these places have in common is that over the last 60 years they were (some still are) occupied by British French and USA. They should have shown gaza Palestine on the list.
They should also make a list of coutries that have occupied other countries and make a comparison between
I support u rodrigo,come over to nigeria & see beautiful girls which is an indication that they ar leaving in peace & harmony(beautey & happiness is our index of measurement)we ar not & we will never be a failled state.
Nigeria is never a f…state,d peaple ar known as d hapiest on earth,supports a lot of peace keepng in africa & d world.d writer is suffering frm (short sightedness or parkinsen disease)
The reason for the “failure” of these states boil down to one thing: greed. May that be greed for power or money. I must point out that greed is far more eminent in Western countries and I personally would rather live in one of these “failed” states than where I do now (UK). I would also suggest that Western states are more morally “failed” than these, when we have policy and rules that allow businesses to be bigger than countries yet have minimal global responsibility it shows the epic fail that is capitalism and western society.
@ Rodrigo: Terrorism in Colombia has extremely decreased during last years while the sendero luminoso is already back in strenght in Peru, supported by Chavez, the FARCS and many others.
WTF?…Bhutan?…I have been to Bhutan and i must say it is the most beautiful country with healthy happy and friendly people and economy and nature..wow the nature…I am from central India and it sucks..vile people.
The question is not whether these countries are failed states or not or if the Failed States index (or its authors) are valid. The real question is if the criteria used has value or validity outside the bubble that is:
a) capitalism
b) democracy
and in my humble opinion … it has absolutely no value at all. Many of the elements in the criteria used are based on trade, globalisation, etc. … capitalism. In many of the countries high up on that list this ‘money-making-frenzy’ is nothing more than basic daily survival and the ideas of interests from banks, money gained from stocks and all that jazz may well be from Mars or a different solar system alltogether, thats how alien it is to the people living there. There, a fish has more value than a shoe full of money.
For all the people getting annoyed or agitated by this misleading post and the Index which-has-no-reason … look around and look for the beauty each and every country has to offer. As long as you see a kid smiling, a person helping you with translation or some old folks laughing about a joke in the shadows of a tree … then you are in a successful country. It might be led by failed leaders or wanna-be leaders, but if the people keep their hearts, the country has a beat!
I don´t agree with this commnt: “My girlfriend is a Nigerian Ibo, I really want her to join me in Europe.
I disagree about Colombia it’s not that poor and violent, then Colombians made HUGE progress in a short time you really have to notice. Moreover there is much worst in South America (Bolivia, Venezuela (because of the dictatorship but I love Venezuelan people), Guyana, Peru, etc…) and what about Central America and Cuba? Come on Cuba has the biggest Immigration in the World and there are 15 murd*rs a day in El Salvador for a population of only 6 Millions!!!!”
Colombia still has terrorism and Peru does not, poberty is decreasing in Peru and the king of poberty of some peruvian poeple cannot be compared to what I’ve seen in this pictures, but Guyana, Bolivia, Ecuator and Surinam THOSE ARE REAL “FAIL” COUNTRIES.
My girlfriend is a Nigerian Ibo, I really want her to join me in Europe.
I disagree about Colombia it’s not that poor and violent, then Colombians made HUGE progress in a short time you really have to notice. Moreover there is much worst in South America (Bolivia, Venezuela (because of the dictatorship but I love Venezuelan people), Guyana, Peru, etc…) and what about Central America and Cuba? Come on Cuba has the biggest Immigration in the World and there are 15 murd*rs a day in El Salvador for a population of only 6 Millions!!!!
well thing with bosnia and herzegovina (bosna i hercegovina) is that its fairly common thnig to have civil wars every now and than, its like sports
LOL, if you are not the source for these absurd stats, then definately you must have copied from a source that is afr from credible. Coz you copied useless stats, your stats also become useless and you become a fool. Fool copied fool and now fool wants people to believe that since he has been duped, we should be duped. I fail to understand why a picture of child celebrating Zimbabwe’s independence with a toy gun at the National Sports Stadium has anything to do with this. You are desperate Mr Editor. Your Sources are rubbish and that makes you rubbish too.
It looks like the whole of Africa is a fail.
I don’t agree with this list that Kenya should be number 13 on failed countries.Just because we had post election violence in 2008 does not mean we are failed or because there are people living in arid areas.The government is currently doing a lot to alleviate such people’s miseries.Plus just the other day we held a very peaceful referendum without a single drop of bl*odshed.I think these people should do their research well.I LOVE MY COUNTRY KENYA AND I KNOW ONE DAY ALL WILL BE WELL
A lot on this list aren’t failed states.
Those are Bolivia’s soldiers doing a comunity help program on the countryside. I don’t see how that is bad. In a way it’s like the “Toy’s for Tot’s” in the US. The soldiers volunteer to participate in the program as well.
Yeah, right. Because none of these people were at tribal war with each other until the US came along a mili-second in history ago. Whatever dude. Keep dreaming.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Failed_States_Index
all the countries are listed in the failed states index. one way or another each and every country is failing and it doesn’t mean that they are loosers.
African countries were explored by Europe ( UK, France, etc…) during 200 years. The others suffers interference from the big US exportation product: intolerance and war.
@Cyn, thanks for pointing out: “…READ THE ARTICLE before posting. The “FUND FOR PEACE” is the one who put this list together’.
The point is: what is the chance an average child will need to deal with a lot of shit growing up (little food, poor education, unsecure about job or a piece of land to make a living from, violance, hate, war…)? And believe me, most people in African countries will tell you that a child is more lucky born somewhere else…
The list complete list is interesting. Look at the USA. We score bad on:
- Legacy of Vengeance-Seeking Group Grievance or Group Paranoia
- Uneven Economic Development along Group Lines
How is that ‘discriminating muslims or blacks?’
And in spite of all that could be better, most people have great lifes, also in Somalia, Kenya, Libanon or the USA.
African countries should start off as worst, then the Arab ones.
NK, Syria, Nepal, and many others are MUCH better than half of those Africa countries.
ESPECIALLY RWANDA, they just had a genocide not too long ago.
The Congo is really f+++++ up.
I’ts not discrimination, it’s truth.
Lebanon is failed because it allows a terrorist organization like Hezbollah do whatever they want.
In any Normal country only Official Government Organizations like the Army and the Police can bare arms.
You cowards allow Hezbollah to do whatever they want this is why you failed.
You need to throw them out and make your army strong.
And believe me, if you trow out the shia hezbollah, Israel will never have ANY reasons to bomb you again!
Most of these countries are either of People in Black or Muslim Countries. Why are these countries facing so much of discremination? Because they are Black? Because they are Muslims?
Whoo hoo my country has made it to the top 25. Seriously, poverty and civil wars may have affected us but we have a sense of humour.
Most of these nations are just poor, and/or under dictators, but neither of those make them “failed” nations.
Kenya is a failed state because?!!!! – gosh, maybe I should read the papers and watch the news more often, I live in a failed state and I’m not aware of it!
Lebanon ? You have got to be kidding me !
Yeah I see where this is going, choosing pictures of your own… Why don’t you show the mountains,beaches,historical places , CHRISTIAN towns , people that have money and not the partiular places where Israel have bombed ? Would you like it if I picture the worst alleys in america where a hell of homeless people are begging ? Respect the people please.
The whole concept is good, but I think some of the rankings are wrong like Kenya & Nigeria are not failing countries, Bosnia on the other hand is among the first 20 in that list however its very disheartening to see that 50% of the countries in this list are African Countries.
And you proved that one thing you are not failing at is using foul language.
As I said, you may agree or disagree with this list. Read the post and the comments. And I agree with all of you all, there are different forms of failure and there are no perfect countries (not even close).
The country I live in is on the list and it has, in many aspects of its existence, failed. It doesn’t mean any of these countries should be ashamed. They are capable of great progress. As all of us are.
This is mostly one way of looking at things, just for the fun of it
Admin, you’re an ignorant piece of s***, but I guess it’s a good thing people like you actually believe this kind of cr** so you don’t come to our “failed countries” and harm them with your stupidity.
“But as much as we admire the stats and numbers there is no better way but as the photos that demonstrate the degree of failure of a country” …haha the only thing you demonstrated with your biased photos is that you’re an as*ho**.
Have a nice day.
Third world countries. They have been like that since the beginning of time. They will continue that way until the end of time.
According to what?
Just because these countries don’t match up to Western values and privileges? As mentioned already, many of these seem to have been decided due to a few isolated incidents.
Most of these countries face problems due to interference from the Western world. For instance Afghanistan’s terrorist groups were funded during the 1980’s by the United States in order to combat Soviet Forces. America’s involvement continues to be harmful to this day.
And the use of ‘fail’ doesn’t sit well with me. Seems you’re just forcing your own perceptions or what a successful country is onto us. Also on the internet ‘fail’ is meant to be used offensively, rather than just to denote when someone hasn’t succeeded.
Reading most of these posts, it never fails to amaze me either a. how stupid people are and b. how they never fail to READ THE ARTICLE before posting.
The “FUND FOR PEACE” is the one who put this list together, NOT this website or the writer. Get over it.
You want to take your “oh whoa is me, how dare you diminish my country” complaints to the actual people responsible.
And, you know what, yeah MOST OF THESE COUNTRIES BELONG ON THIS LIST.
i dont take it that u can post kenya as a failed state.its one place uwould love to be in.so dont take insolated cases to deminish my country.
What is the scale of failure? Poverty, political instability; if those cause of failure
This post has no logical rights. Why India isn’t? There worlds poorest people live in, there government or NGO do nothing in long times. They have very deep problem in political parties. So I think this post and reference have some Political aims. Don’t minds India only a example.
countries with the taliban and alquda
fail most of these countries you listed as “fail” only because of small little things
People this is based off a Index done by an organization called Fund for Peace and they listed the all the nations in the world (UN members mainly) and put them in a ranking and these are the 60 worst on the Failed State Index.
ll mostly Muslim countries.. haha Muslims are terrorists
Lebanon?!?!?!!?
Hos is Lebanon a failed country…
3 million tourists a year in a country of 4 million, and you show pictures of places where Israel bombed?
Idiots… Put up some pics of 9/11 and put it on top of the list, is that fair?
How can one term a whole sizzling country a failed state on the basis of one pic only? If Pakistan were a failed country because of a pic taken right after a bomb blast – where investigations are going on – Police and agencies are there as in the pic: then what would one say about America if the 911 pics are taken into account.
Pakistan is the only country the whole US-NATO coalition relies on for its unfinished business in South East Asia specifically Afghanistan.
If Sri Lanka were a failed state, I wonder why Arthur C. Clarke (The world famous science fiction writer) chose to live and di* there? He could have lived anywhere he chose!
Oh My God You MORONS!! “Where is USA!” “Why Sri Lanka!” “ooh ooh you put my favourite country on there – ooh it was PRETTY when I was there the ONE time I visited and someone smiled at me. Ooh!”
THIS LIST IS NOT COMPILED BY THIS WEBSITE. IT IS COMPILED FROM ANOTHER ENTITY ALTOGETHER.
Idiots. Try reading before you post.