LIC - Low Income Country - countries with a GNI per capita of $1,045 or less

MIC - Medium Income Country - countries with a GNI per capita of + $1,045 but less than $12,695

HIC - High Income Country - countries with a GNI per capita above US$ 12,696

climate - arid or semi-arid climate limits local food production

topography - elevation affects the impact of sea level rise

location - being remote or landlocked reduces trade

hazards - earthquakes, eruptions and tropical storms risk disaster

historic factors - some countries colonised and exploited others

economic factors - some countries have very high levels of debt

political factors - some countries are at war or the government may be corrupt

colonialism - the occupation, exploitation and control of one country by another

neo-colonialism - the indirect control of one country by another

international relations - the way in which nations interact with and regard each other