Democratic Republic of the Congo showed highest hunger rate of 42.7 points in the index.

The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has declined drastically since the mid-1980s.

The First and Second Congo Wars, which began in 1996, have eaten into the national output and government revenue. It led to increased external debt, hunger, famine and deaths.

Foreign businesses have curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment.

Image: Congolese walk down a road near the Rumangabo base which was overran by rebels loyal to renegade Laurent Nkunda after an intense battle, about 50 km north of the provincial capital of Goma, on October 11, 2008. | Photograph: Walter Astrada/AFP/Getty Images

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