积弱积贫

idiom

long-standing weakness and poverty; chronic debility and destitution (variant of 积贫积弱)

This is a less common variant of the idiom 积贫积弱. Both forms describe a country or society that has suffered from prolonged economic poverty and military or structural weakness over an extended historical period. The order 积弱积贫 places emphasis on weakness before poverty, though the semantic difference is negligible.