Developed Country

(noun)

A sovereign state with a highly developed economy relative to other nations.

Related Terms

Examples of Developed Country in the following topics:

  • Industrializing Countries

    • Industrializing countries have low standards of living, undeveloped industry, and low Human Development Indices (HDIs).
    • Thus, it might more aptly be labeled a "less-developed country. "
    • An industrializing country, also commonly referred to as a developing country or a less-developed country, is a nation with a low standard of living, undeveloped industrial base, and low Human Development Index (HDI) relative to other countries.
    • This map shows what stage of economic development various countries are in.
    • Explain why some scholars use the term 'less-developed country' instead of 'industrializing country'

  • Global Aging Trends

    • However, the rate at which the world's population is aging is not uniform across countries, and some countries have actually seen decreasing life expectancies, largely as a result of AIDS.
    • It is pretty clear from the map that more developed countries have much older populations and a greater percentage of their population is aged 65+.
    • The least developed countries are also the youngest countries as life expectancies are substantially lower.
    • More developed countries have older populations as their citizens live longer.
    • Less developed countries have much younger populations.

  • Industrialized Countries

    • Industrialized countries have greater levels of wealth and economic development than less-industrialized countries.
    • An industrialized country, also commonly referred to as a developed country, is a sovereign state with a highly developed economy relative to other nations.
    • The criteria to use and the countries to classify as developed are contentious issues, as discussed below.
    • The Human Development Index, along with the entire concept of "developing" and "developed" countries, has been criticized on a number of grounds.
    • The term "developing" implies inferiority compared to a developed country, and it also assumes a desire to develop along the traditional Western model of economic development.

  • Mortality

    • Thus, for example, the number of deaths per 1000 people can be higher for developed nations than in less-developed countries, despite life expectancy being higher in developed countries due to standards of health being better.
    • Thus, for example, the number of deaths per 1000 people can be higher for developed nations than in less-developed countries, despite life expectancy being higher in developed countries due to better standards of health.
    • Like fertility, mortality rates vary between countries, especially between developing and developed countries.
    • Overall, developing countries tend to have higher mortality rates, higher infant mortality rates, and lower life expectancies.
    • For example, mortality due to malnutrition tends to be much higher in developing countries, whereas in developed countries, people are more likely to die of age-related diseases.

  • Least Industrialized Countries

    • Samoa has been characterized as a least developed country by the UN because of its small economy and the vulnerability of its agricultural industry.
    • After years of political stability and reduced poverty, the UN sought to relabel Samoa as a developing nation, rather than a least developed country.
    • In contrast to industrialized and industrializing countries, the world's least industrialized countries exhibit extremely poor economic growth and have the lowest Human Development Index (HDI) measures in the world.
    • To be considered a least industrialized country, or least developed country (LDC) as they are commonly called, a country must have a small economy and low standards of living .
    • Thus, the definition of LDCs is more rigid than the definition of developing/industrializing and developed/industrialized countries .

  • Global Aging

    • Citizens living in wealthier, more developed countries or regions tend to have higher life expectancies.
    • People living in poorer, less developed countries tend to have lower life expectancies.
    • As nations develop, their life expectancy generally rises.
    • More developed countries have older populations because their citizens live longer.
    • Less developed countries have much younger populations.

  • Global Inequality

    • Countries have developed at an uneven rate because wealthy countries have exploited poor countries in the past and today through foreign debt and transnational corporations (TNCs).
    • Instead, poor countries are trapped by large debts which prevent them from developing.
    • Countries cannot focus on economic or human development when they are constantly paying off debt.
    • Semiperipheral countries (e.g., South Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil, India, Nigeria, South Africa) are less developed than core nations but are more developed than peripheral nations.
    • When moving businesses and factories to cheap labor locations, effort is not made to create better quality of living and development projects in poor countries.

  • Dependency Theories

    • Countries have developed at an uneven rate because wealthy countries have exploited poor countries in the past and continue to do so today through foreign debt and foreign trade.
    • Today, poor countries are trapped by large debts which prevent them from developing.
    • Countries cannot focus on economic or human development when they are constantly paying off debt; these countries will continue to remain undeveloped.
    • The governments of poor countries invite these TNCs to invest in their country with the hope of developing the country and bringing material benefit to the people.
    • Through unequal economic relations with wealthy countries in the form of continued debts and foreign trade, poor countries continue to be dependent and unable to tap into their full potential for development.

  • World-Systems Theory

    • The theory originated with sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein, who suggests that the way a country is integrated into the capitalist world system determines how economic development takes place in that country.
    • Peripheral countries (e.g., most African countries and low income countries in South America) are dependent on core countries for capital and are less industrialized and urbanized.
    • Semi-peripheral countries (e.g., South Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil, India, Nigeria, South Africa) are less developed than core nations but more developed than peripheral nations.
    • Peripheral countries generally provide labor and materials to core countries.
    • Semiperipheral countries exploit peripheral countries, just as core countries exploit both semiperipheral and peripheral countries.

  • Colonialism and Neocolonialism

    • Marx viewed colonialism as part of the global capitalist system, which has led to exploitation, social change, and uneven development.
    • This theory argues that countries have developed at an uneven rate because wealthy countries have exploited poor countries in the past and today through foreign debt and foreign trade.
    • Core countries (e.g., U.S., Japan, Germany) are dominant capitalist countries characterized by high levels of industrialization and urbanization.
    • Peripheral countries (e.g., most African countries and low income countries in South America) are dependent on core countries for capital, and have very little industrialization and urbanization.
    • Semiperipheral countries (e.g., South Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil, India, Nigeria, South Africa) are less developed than core nations but are more developed than peripheral nations.