===== Low-Income Countries (LICs) =====

'''Low-income countries (LICs)''' are nations classified by the [[World Bank]] as having a gross national income (GNI) per capita of $1,135 or less (2024 threshold, revised annually).

These countries often face:
  * Limited [[healthcare infrastructure]]
  * High burden of [[communicable diseases]]
  * Restricted access to [[education]], [[clean water]], and [[sanitation]]
  * Significant dependency on [[international aid]] and external funding

==== Health System Challenges ====
  * Shortages of [[healthcare workers]] and specialists  
  * Inadequate access to [[essential surgery]], [[maternal health]], and [[vaccination programs]]  
  * Fragmented or under-resourced [[public health systems]]

==== Relevance in Global Health ====
LICs are a central focus of:
  * [[Health equity]] and [[universal health coverage]] initiatives  
  * [[Global surgery]] and [[capacity building]] programs  
  * International collaborations for [[disease control]], [[nutrition]], and [[emergency response]]

==== See also ====
  * [[Middle-Income Countries]]
  * [[High-Income Countries]]
  * [[Global Health]]
  * [[World Bank Income Classification]]
  * [[Essential Health Services]]