'resource-poor' originates from the combination of 'resource' and 'poor', where 'resource' refers to a supply of materials or assets, and 'poor' indicates a lack or deficiency.

'resource' comes from the Old French 'resourse', meaning 'a source or supply', and 'poor' from the Latin 'pauper', meaning 'lacking'.

Initially, 'resource-poor' meant lacking in physical resources, but it has evolved to include economic and technological deficiencies.