Developed Countries have the highest level of social and economic development (Canada, USA, Japan, Germany, England, Australia) Economies are based increasingly.

• Developed Countries have the highest level of social and economic development (Canada, USA, Japan, Germany, England, Australia)

• Economies are based increasingly on the service sector (health care, banking, transportation, IT)

• Strong manufacturing bases have become less important to the country’s overall economy

• Primary industry (mining, farming, forestry, fishing) least important economic sector

• High standard of living and long life expectancy

• Developed countries currently have approximately 20% of the world’s population and consume most of it’s resources

Developed Countries

• Developing Countries have the lowest level of social and economic growth, most of the countries of Africa and Asia are members of this group

• Have economies that are dominated by primary industries. Much of the population are farmers (subsistence agriculture)

• Most new development is aimed around manufacturing (may have raw materials and cheap labour)

• Poorly developed service sector (no one has money to pay for non-essential (cable, barber, banking) or essential (health care, education) services

• Low standard of living and short life expectancy• Foreign Aid plays an important role in a

government’s ability to pay for essential services and maintaining infrastructure (electricity, roads, sewers, garbage disposal)

Developing Countries

• Newly Industrializing Countries (NIC) are in the process of becoming developed

• Involves a complete shift from reliance on primary industry to creating economic growth in the service and manufacturing sectors

• Huge shift from primarily Rural to primarily Urban population

• Countries such as Taiwan and South Korea have just recently passed through this stage

• Countries such as China, Mexico, Malaysia, India, Chile are currently in this Category

• There is generally a huge difference from the lifestyles of the very rich and very poor in these countries

• Although much of the country is beginning to have greater wealth, the majority of the people are still quite poor compared with the average in a developed country

Newly Industrializing Countries

• GDP per capita: is the total amount of goods and services produced in a country in one year divided by the total population. This gives an idea of the amount of money available for each person.

• Rural/Urban mix: a measure of the percentage of the population living in cities

• Birth Rate: a measure of the babies born each year • Life Expectancy: How long the average person can

expect to live• Number of Doctors per 1000: Generally the more

doctors per people in the country indicates a higher degree of development

• Number of TVs, Telephones or internet users per 1000: Countries with higher number in these categories have greater growth in the service sector and generally a higher standard of living

Comparing Statistics

• Human Development Index (UN): uses a combination of life expectancy, literacy rate and GDP per capita to indicate a relative degree of development for a country

• HDI gives a rough indication of what are the best and worst countries to live in.

• Canada is one of the highest ranked countries on the UN’s HDI

• Out of the world’s approximately 173 countries; 53 are highly developed, 84 have a medium HDI (adequate quality of life) and 36 have a low HDI (poor quality of life)

Human Development Index

GDP Per CapitaWorld Average18,409 20101 Oceania 39,025 20102 North America32,446 20103 Europe25,476 20104 South America 9,006

20105 Asia 2,902 20106 Africa 1,603 20107 Antarctica N/A 2010