Developing country

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     Advanced economies      Emerging and developing economies (not least developed)

Emerging and developing economies (least developed)Classifications by the IMF and the UN

Newly industrialized countries as of 2009

World map indicating the Human Development Index (based on 2007 data, published on
October 5, 2009)[citation needed]
     0.950 and Over      0.900–      0.700–0.749      0.650–      0.450–0.499      0.400–
0.949      0.850–0.899 0.699      0.600–0.649 0.449      0.350–0.399      under
0.800–0.849      0.750–0.799 0.550–0.599      0.500–0.549 0.350      not available
(Color-blind compliant map) For red-green color vision problems.

Developing country is a term generally used to describe a nation with a low level of
material well being. There is no single internationally-recognized definition of developed
country, and the levels of development may vary widely within so-called developing
countries, with some developing countries having high average standards of living.[1][2]

Some international organizations like the World Bank use strictly numerical
classifications. The World Bank considers all low- and middle- income countries as
"developing". In its most recent classification, economies are divided using 2008 Gross
National Income per capita. In 2008, countries with GNI per capita below US$11,905
were considered developing.[3] Other institutions use less specific definitions.

Countries with more advanced economies than other developing nations, but which have
not yet fully demonstrated the signs of a developed country, are grouped under the term
newly industrialized countries.[4][5][6][7]

Contents
[hide]
 1 Definition
 2 Measure and concept of development
 3 Limitations of the term 'developing country'
 4 List of emerging and developing economies
o 4.1 Developing countries not listed by IMF
 5 Typology and names of countries

 6 References
 [edit] Definition
Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations, defined a developed
country as follows. "A developed country is one that allows all its citizens to enjoy a free
and healthy life in a safe environment."[8] But according to the United Nations Statistics
Division,

There is no established convention for the designation of "developed" and

"developing" countries or areas in the United Nations system.[2]

And it notes that

The designations "developed" and "developing" are intended for statistical

convenience and do not necessarily express a judgement about the stage reached
by a particular country or area in the development process.[9]

The UN also notes

In common practice, Japan in Asia, Canada and the United States in northern
America, Australia and New Zealand in Oceania, and Europe are considered
"developed" regions or areas. In international trade statistics, the Southern African
Customs Union is also treated as a developed region and Israel as a developed
country; countries emerging from the former Yugoslavia, except for Slovenia, are
treated as developing countries; and countries of eastern Europe and the
Commonwealth of Independent States (code 172) in Europe are not included
under either developed or developing regions.[10]

According to the classification from IMF before April 2004, all the countries of Eastern
Europe (including Central European countries which still belongs to "Eastern Europe
Group" in the UN institutions) as well as the former Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) countries in
Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan) and
Mongolia, were not included under either developed or developing regions, but rather
were referred to as "countries in transition"; however they are now widely regarded (in
the international reports) as "developing countries". In the 21st century, the original Four
Asian Tigers[11] regions (Hong Kong,[11][12] Singapore,[11][12] South Korea,[11][12][13][14] and
Taiwan[11][12]) are considered "developed" region or areas, along with Cyprus,[12] Israel,[12]
Malta,[12] and Slovenia,[12] are considered "newly developed countries".

The IMF uses a flexible classification system that considers "(1) per capita income level,
(2) export diversification—so oil exporters that have high per capita GDP would not
make the advanced classification because around 70% of its exports are oil, and (3)
degree of integration into the global financial system."[15]

The World Bank classifies countries into four income groups. Low income countries
have GNI per capita of US$975 or less. Lower middle income countries have GNI per
capita of US$976–$3,855. Upper middle income countries have GNI per capita between
US$3,856–$11,905. High income countries have GNI above $11,906. The World Bank
classifies all low- and middle-income countries as developing but notes, "The use of the
term is convenient; it is not intended to imply that all economies in the group are
experiencing similar development or that other economies have reached a preferred or
final stage of development. Classification by income does not necessarily reflect
development status."[3]

[edit] Measure and concept of development

The development of a country is measured with statistical indexes such as income per
capita (per person) (GDP), life expectancy, the rate of literacy, et cetera. The UN has
developed the HDI, a compound indicator of the above statistics, to gauge the level of
human development for countries where data is available.

Developing countries are in general countries which have not achieved a significant
degree of industrialization relative to their populations, and which have, in most cases a
medium to low standard of living. There is a strong correlation between low income and
high population growth.

The terms utilized when discussing developing countries refer to the intent and to the
constructs of those who utilize these terms. Other terms sometimes used are less
developed countries (LDCs), least economically developed countries (LEDCs),
"underdeveloped nations" or Third World nations, and "non-industrialized nations".
Conversely, the opposite end of the spectrum is termed developed countries, most
economically developed countries (MEDCs), First World nations and "industrialized
nations".

To moderate the euphemistic aspect of the word developing, international organizations

have started to use the term Less economically developed country (LEDCs) for the
poorest nations which can in no sense be regarded as developing. That is, LEDCs are the
poorest subset of LDCs. This may moderate against a belief that the standard of living
across the entire developing world is the same.

The concept of the developing nation is found, under one term or another, in numerous
theoretical systems having diverse orientations — for example, theories of
decolonization, liberation theology, Marxism, anti-imperialism, and political economy.

[edit] Limitations of the term 'developing country'

There is criticism of the use of the term ‘developing country’. The term implies
inferiority of a 'developing country' compared to a 'developed country', which many such
countries dislike. It assumes a desire to ‘develop’ along the traditional 'Western' model of
economic development which many countries, such as Cuba, have chosen not to follow.
Thus Cuba remains classed as 'developing' due to its low gross national income but has a
lower infant mortality rate and higher literacy rate than the USA.[16]
The term 'developing' implies mobility and does not acknowledge that development may
be in decline or static in some countries, particularly those southern African states worst
affected by HIV/AIDS. The term implies homogeneity between such countries which
vary wildly. The term also implies homogeneity within such countries when wealth (and
health) of the most and least affluent groups varies wildly.