Introducing The Absolute, Unequivocal Worst Country on Earth

If you haven't seen by now, the Wonton Don and I have a new show called Drop A Pin. Donnie has travel stories from all over the globe and that comes with a rolodex full of other folks who have traveled all over the blue dot as well. In our first few episodes, we have sat down with 3 dudes who have gone to every single country on earth. 

One of those guys is Lee Abbamonte. By the age of 32, Lee had traveled to all 193 United Nations member states, which made him the youngest American to accomplish this feat. Not only that, he told us that he's been to 151 of those countries twice which is fucking insane. Add on to that, he's been to every single national park, climbed the highest peaks in the world, and has been to every single state at least 3 times. So when I say that the dude is well-traveled, the dude is well fuckin traveled. When we asked him about the world's worst country, he didn't hesitate. 

Sam Goodwin, who joined us for the first episode of the show, also said that Chad was the worst country and that is after he spent time in a Syrian prison. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of ole Chad. 

However, both have said that it's not the people of Chad that make it bad, it's the fact that it's the dead heart of Africa that is filled with moon dust, dirt, and corruption on high levels. 

Here are some things that Chad sucks at according to the United Nations so you cant be mad at me. 

Fun fact about the picture above. That's lake Chad. Chad means Lake so really Lake Chad is Lake Lake. Lake Lake is lovely this time of year. Anyway, here's what Lake Lake sucks at. 

1. Human Development Index (HDI)

   • Chad often ranks at or near the bottom of the UN Human Development Index, which measures quality of life, education, and life expectancy.

2. Poverty Rate

   • Chad has one of the highest poverty rates globally, with a large portion of the population living below the international poverty line.

3. Access to Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Many people in Chad lack access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities, which contributes to health problems and the spread of diseases.

4. Healthcare Quality

   • Healthcare infrastructure is very limited, with high infant mortality rates, low life expectancy, and a lack of medical facilities and trained professionals.

5. Literacy and Education Access

   • Literacy rates in Chad are among the lowest in the world, with limited access to formal education, particularly for women and children in rural areas.

6. Political Stability

   • Chad has faced significant political instability, including military coups, conflicts with rebel groups, and authoritarian governance, making it one of the most politically unstable countries.

7. Press Freedom

   • Chad ranks poorly in terms of press freedom, with government control over media, restrictions on freedom of speech, and the arrest of journalists.

8. Child Mortality Rate

   • Chad has one of the highest child mortality rates in the world, due to factors such as malnutrition, lack of medical care, and preventable diseases.

9. Economic Diversification

   • Chad’s economy is heavily reliant on oil and agriculture, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in oil prices and climate change impacts on crops.

10. Infrastructure Development

    • Chad has minimal infrastructure, especially in terms of roads, electricity, and internet access, which hampers economic growth and development.

11. Gender Equality

    • Women’s rights and gender equality are significant challenges, with high rates of child marriage and limited access to education and economic opportunities for women.
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Now, luckily for us, Lee didn't just talk about Chad for an hour. He spoke about his experiences all over the globe which, when your passport is as stamped as his, are pretty extensive. This is one you won't want to miss especially since the political unrest is so bad that their former president, who was in office for over 30 years, ended up being shot and killed on the front lines of a battle in 2021. A crazy crazy place that you shouldn't visit but should learn about. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts.