THE WORST PLACE IN THE WORLD: See What Life Is Like In Somalia + SHOCKING PHOTOS SPEAKS

Worse than Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Yemen, and Afghanistan,  Somalia is the most failed state in the world, according to the annual ranking by Foreign Policy and The Global Fund For Peace.

Located in the Horn of Africa, the majority Sunni Muslim country suffers from an ineffective government, famine, disease, piracy, militant extremism, and frequent external intervention.

No wonder it has topped the list of the most failed states every year since 2008.

 

We have to start with the famine. The UN reports that famine in Somalia, which officially lasted from 2010-2012, killed 260,000 people.

Source: United Nations.

1/3 of all children younger than 5 are underweight.

 Source: CIA World Factbook.

 

For every 1,000 children, 180 will never reach the age of 5.

 Source: United Nations Population Fund.

Famine struck in the early 90s as well, claiming 220,000 lives.

Source: Famine Early Warning Systems Network.

Back then, rampant tribalism and infighting led to extreme food shortages, food hoarding by armed factions, and eventually civil war.

 Source: New York Times.

The turmoil spurned U.S. and international intervention, culminating in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993, when two Blackhawk helicopters were shot down and 18 U.S troops were killed.

Source: Defense Technical Information Center. 

20 years later, there's little improvement to show for the foreign intervention.

Source: New York Times.

The life expectancy is just 51 years.

 Source: CIA World Factboob.

14.6% of women have access to contraception.

Source: CIA World Factbook.

The average woman in Somalia gives birth to 6 children.

Source: CIA World Factbook.

The maternal mortality rate is through the roof. 1,000 mothers die per 100,000 live births.

 Source: CIA World Factbook.

Infant mortality is even worse. 101.9 children die per 1,000 live births.

Source: CIA World Factbook.

There is a high risk of infectious disease, including rabies and hepatitis.

 Source: CIA World Factbook.

Somalia's key export commodities are livestock, bananas, animal hides, fish, charcoal, and scrap metal.

 Source: CIA World Factbook.

Terrorism is also a key export.

 Source: CIA World Factbook.

The key terrorist group is Al-Shabaab, which has been linked to Al-Qaeda
 

 Source: Council on Foreign Relations.

Here, the president of Somalia's Olympic committee lies fatally injured after a suicide bombing last year.

 Source: Reuters.

The African Union has had a peacekeeping force there since 2007.

 Source: African Union Mission in Somalia.

But violence is rampant, with tribal factions, military elements from Somalia and abroad, and Islamic extremists constantly doing battle.

 Source: African Union Mission in Somalia.

Somalia is well known as the home country of the pirates who terrorize the key trade waters near the Horn of Africa.

 Source: National Defense University.

The international community has devoted resources in the region to combat piracy, like these South Koran commandos raiding this ship.

 Source: Time.

Meanwhile, the Gross Domestic Product per capita is just $600.

 Source: CIA World Factbook.

Only 29% of the population has access to improved drinking water.

 Source: CIA World Factbook.

37.8% of the population over the age of 15 can read and write.

 Source: CIA World Factbook.

For women, that number drops to 25.8%.

 Source: CIA World Factbook.

The average child spends just 3 years in school. 49% of children contribute to the labor force.

 Source: CIA World Factbook.

Yet in spite of the hardships and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Gallup recently found that 94% of people in the region are optimistic about the future. There's nowhere to go but up.

Source: Business Insider.