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Developing country

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People use different names to describe how much money and industry a country has. A developing country is a place with a smaller industrial base. These nations often have a lower Human Development Index (HDI). This index is a way to measure how people live.

High income economies
High income economies

Some people call these places low-and middle-income countries. Others use the term newly emerging economy. These names usually focus only on how much money a country makes. However, people do not always agree on these labels. Some think the terms create a divide between "us" and "them."

Map of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita in 2024
Map of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita in 2024

Different groups use different ways to group these nations. The World Bank looks at gross national income per capita. They use the Atlas method to reset these numbers every July 1st. They have four main groups for economies. High-income countries are at the top. Then there are upper-middle, lower-middle, and low-income countries.

High income economies
High income economies

For the 2022 fiscal year, a low-income country had less than 1,045 US dollars per person. An upper-middle-income country had between 4,096 and 12,695 US dollars. The IMF looks at things differently. They focus on how well a country connects to global money markets.

IMF advanced economies and UN least developed countries
IMF advanced economies and UN least developed countries

History and geography play a big role in how countries grow. Some countries are called small island developing states. These are small nations on islands that face many natural challenges. They may have limited resources or be far from other lands. Other countries are landlocked, meaning they have no ocean nearby. This can make trade and travel much harder.

Least Developed Countries
Least Developed Countries

Some nations are also called transition economies. These are places moving from one way of running a government to a market system. This happened to many countries in Central and Eastern Europe after the Soviet Union fell.

Map of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita in 2024
Map of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita in 2024

Life in developing countries can have many shared characteristics. People may have less access to safe drinking water or electricity. There might be higher levels of pollution in the air or water.

Plastic Pollution in Ghana
Plastic Pollution in Ghana

Many people may face infectious diseases or higher rates of hunger. These places often have lower life expectancies than high-income countries. This is often due to lower income and different public health needs.

Hunger Map 2020 World Food Programme
Hunger Map 2020 World Food Programme

Climate change is also a big concern for these nations. They often have a high vulnerability to changes in the weather.

Change in Average Temperature With Fahrenheit
Change in Average Temperature With Fahrenheit

Many groups work together to help these nations improve. Foreign governments and agencies provide development aid. This is money given to support social and economic growth. The United Nations set up the Sustainable Development Goals for the year 2030. These goals aim to solve many of the hard problems people face.

Least Developed Countries
Least Developed Countries

Achieving these goals could change many lives. Measuring progress is a big job for the whole world. It helps us see where more help is needed most.

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🖼️ Images & Media (14)
File:Map of developed countries by 6 criteria.png
Map of developed countries by 6 criteria.png
File:High income economies.svg
High income economies.svg
File:Least Developed Countries.png
Least Developed Countries.png
File:Map of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita in 2024.svg
Map of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita...
File:IMF advanced economies and UN least developed countries.svg
IMF advanced economies and UN least...
File:A formation of human chain at India Gate by the women from different walks of life at the launch of a National Campaign on prevention of violence against women, in New Delhi on October 02, 2009.jpg
A formation of human chain at India Gate...
File:Women who experienced violence by an intimate partner, OWID.svg
Women who experienced violence by an...
File:Hunger Map 2020 World Food Programme.svg
Hunger Map 2020 World Food Programme.svg
File:Solar-Panel-Cooker-in-front-of-hut.jpg
Solar-Panel-Cooker-in-front-of-hut.jpg
File:Factory in China at Yangtze River.JPG
Factory in China at Yangtze River.JPG
File:Plastic Pollution in Ghana.jpg
Plastic Pollution in Ghana.jpg
File:Change in Average Temperature With Fahrenheit.svg
Change in Average Temperature With Fahrenheit.svg

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