The wealth gap between the least developed and other countries in the world has widened in recent decades and that trend will continue, unless their structural weaknesses that are the cause of such situations are dealt with, said a UN report by a panel on nine experts, published on Wednesday.

Most of the least developed countries have recorded certain economic growth, but they simply generate less development, experts point out, Reuters reported.

A total of 48 nations, out of which more than two-thirds are in Africa, are classified by the UN as Least Developed Countries (LDCs). There are several criteria for a country to be listed in this group, including per capita gross national income of less than USD 905.

The panel, headed by former Malian president Alpha Oumar Konare and former World Bank president James Wolfensohn, studied the impact of a 10-year action program on LDCs launched at a UN conference in Brussels in 2001.

Panel’s recommendations are to be discussed at a conference in Istanbul from May 9-13, when a new LDC program for the next decade will be adopted.

Experts concluded that, despite some economic and social progress, the gap between the least developed and other countries is widening due to flaws in education and health systems, undernourishment of citizens, poor infrastructure, dependence on undeveloped agriculture and limited range of exports.

The average per capita income in the LCDs has fallen from 18 percent of the world average four decades ago to 15 percent in 2008, the report said.

Part of the responsibility for such state lies with the LDCs themselves, since they should negotiate better prices for their commodities, fight corruption more efficiently and seek the return of stolen assets.

It is pointed out, however, that foreign aid is fundamental for LCDs’ faster progress. Donor countries should increase their aid to the LDCs to 0.15 percent of their gross national income by 2013 and to 0.2 percent by 2015.

Among other goals are granting duty- and quota-free access for exports of LCDs, getting their official bilateral and multilateral debt reduced, and doubling their agricultural productivity and school enrollment.

The UN earlier said that it wants to halve the number of LDCs by 2021. Since 1970, however, only three countries have managed to get out of the group - Botswana, Cape Verde and the Maldives.