ldc criteria are reviewed every three years. countries may stop being considered an ldc when indicators show that they have become developed enough. since the ldc category was created, four countries have graduated to "developing country" status. the first country to do this was botswana in 1994. the second was cape verde, in 2007. then maldives in 2011, and samoa in 2014. it is expected that equatorial guinea and vanuatu will be the next countries to be promoted from ldc status.