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"Industrial nation" redirects here. For the magazine, see Industrialnation.
Not to be confused with Developing country.
For the investing classification, see Developed market.

A developed country, or advanced country,[3][4] is a sovereign state that has a high quality of life, developed economy, and advanced technological infrastructure relative to other less industrialized nations. Most commonly, the criteria for evaluating the degree of economic development are the gross domestic product (GDP), gross national product (GNP), the per capita income, level of industrialization, amount of widespread infrastructure and general standard of living.[5] Which criteria are to be used and which countries can be classified as being developed are subjects of debate. Different definitions of developed countries are provided by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank; moreover, HDI ranking is used to reflect the composite index of life expectancy, education, and income per capita. In 2024, 40 countries fit all three criteria, while an additional 20 countries fit two out of three.

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  Developed countries (IMF)
  Developing countries (IMF)
  Least developed countries (UN)
  Data unavailable

World map showing country classifications per the IMF[1] and the UN[2] (last updated April 2023). "Developed economies" according to this classification scheme are shown in blue. The map does not include classifications by the World Bank.

Developed countries have generally more advanced post-industrial economies, meaning the service sector provides more wealth than the industrial sector. They are contrasted with developing countries, which are in the process of industrialisation or are pre-industrial and almost entirely agrarian, some of which might fall into the category of Least Developed Countries. As of 2023, advanced economies comprise 57.3% of global GDP based on nominal values and 41.1% of global GDP based on purchasing-power parity (PPP) according to the IMF.[6]

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Definition and criteria

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Economic classification of the world's countries and territories by UN Trade and Development: developed economies are highlighted in blue.[7][8]

Economic criteria have tended to dominate discussions. One such criterion is the income per capita; countries with the high gross domestic product (GDP) per capita would thus be described as developed countries. Another economic criterion is industrialisation; countries in which the tertiary and quaternary sectors of industry dominate would thus be described as developed. More recently, another measure, the Human Development Index (HDI), which combines an economic measure, national income, with other measures, indices for life expectancy and education has become prominent. This criterion would define developed countries as those with a very high (HDI) rating. The index, however, does not take into account several factors, such as the net wealth per capita or the relative quality of goods in a country. This situation tends to lower the ranking of some of the most advanced countries, such as the G7 members and others.[9][10]

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.[11]

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.[12]

Nevertheless, the UN Trade and Development considers that this categorization can continue to be applied:

The developed economies broadly comprise Northern America and Europe, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.[7]

Similar terms

See also: Global North and Global South

Terms linked to the concept developed country include "advanced country", "industrialized country", "more developed country" (MDC), "more economically developed country" (MEDC), "Global North country", "first world country", and "post-industrial country". The term industrialized country may be somewhat ambiguous, as industrialisation is an ongoing process that is hard to define. The first industrialized country was the United Kingdom, followed by Belgium. Later it spread further to Germany, United States, France and other Western European countries. According to some economists such as Jeffrey Sachs, however, the current divide between the developed and developing world is largely a phenomenon of the 20th century.[13]

Mathis Wackernagel calls the binary labeling of countries as "neither descriptive nor explanatory. It is merely a thoughtless and destructive endorsement of GDP fetish. In reality, there are not two types of countries, but over 200 countries, all faced with the same laws of nature, yet each with unique features."[14]

A 2021 analysis proposes the term emerged to describe markets, economies, or countries that have graduated from emerging market status, but have not yet reached the level equivalent to developed countries.[15] Multinational corporations from these emerging markets present unique patterns of overseas expansion and knowledge acquisition from foreign countries.

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Economy lists by various criteria

Human Development Index (HDI)

Main articles: Human Development Index and List of countries by Human Development Index
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The world map representing Human Development Index categories (based on 2022 data, published in 2024)
  •   Very high
  •   High
  •   Medium
  •   Low
  •   No data
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World map of countries or territories by Human Development Index scores in increments of 0.050 (based on 2022 data, published in 2024)
  •   ≥ 0.950
  •   0.900–0.950
  •   0.850–0.899
  •   0.800–0.849
  •   0.750–0.799
  •   0.700–0.749
  •   0.650–0.699
  •   0.600–0.649
  •   0.550–0.599
  •   0.500–0.549
  •   0.450–0.499
  •   0.400–0.449
  •   ≤ 0.399
  •   Data unavailable

The UN HDI is a statistical measure that gauges an economy's level of human development. While there is a strong correlation between having a high HDI score and being a prosperous economy, the UN points out that the HDI accounts for more than income or productivity. Unlike GDP per capita or per capita income, the HDI takes into account how income is turned "into education and health opportunities and therefore into higher levels of human development."

Since 1990, Norway (2001–2006, 2009–2019), Japan (1990–1991 and 1993), Canada (1992 and 1994–2000) and Iceland (2007–2008) have had the highest HDI score.

The following countries in the year 2022 are considered to be of "very high human development":[16]

More information Rank, Δ ...
Rank Δ Country or territory HDI  %

annual growth

(2010-2022)

1Steady   Switzerland 0.967Increase 0.24%
2Decrease (1)  Norway 0.966Increase 0.25%
3Steady  Iceland 0.959Increase 0.28%
4Increase (2)  Hong Kong 0.956Increase 0.38%
5Increase (1)  Denmark 0.952Increase 0.35%
Steady  SwedenIncrease 0.38%
7Increase (8)  Ireland 0.950Increase 0.38%
Decrease (3)  GermanyIncrease 0.19%
9Decrease (1)  Singapore 0.949Increase 0.25%
10Increase (1)  Netherlands 0.946Increase 0.26%
Decrease (1)  AustraliaIncrease 0.20%
12Increase (2)  Liechtenstein 0.942Increase 0.23%
Increase (3)  BelgiumIncrease 0.26%
Steady  Finland Increase 0.27%
15Increase (3)  United Kingdom 0.940Increase 0.24%
16Decrease (7)  New Zealand 0.939Increase 0.13%
17Increase (19)  United Arab Emirates 0.937Increase 1.04%
18Decrease (5)  Canada 0.935Increase 0.22%
19Increase (3)  South Korea 0.929Increase 0.36%
20 Decrease (1)  Luxembourg 0.927 Increase 0.14%
Decrease (5)  United StatesIncrease 0.10%
22Increase (1)  Slovenia 0.926Increase 0.33%
Decrease (1)  AustriaIncrease 0.21%
24 Decrease (4)  Japan 0.920 Increase 0.16%
25Decrease (1)  Israel 0.915Increase 0.26%
Increase (3)  MaltaIncrease 0.50%
27Steady  Spain 0.911Increase 0.40%
28Decrease (3)  France 0.910Increase 0.28%
29Increase (3)  Cyprus 0.907Increase 0.45%
30Steady  Italy 0.906Increase 0.24%
31Decrease (2)  Estonia 0.899Increase 0.33%
32Decrease (6)  Czech Republic 0.895Increase 0.22%
33Decrease (3)  Greece 0.893Increase 0.18%
34Increase (3)  Bahrain 0.888Increase 0.80%
35Increase (3)  Andorra 0.884Increase 0.20%
36 Decrease (2)  Poland 0.881 Increase 0.35%
37 Increase (2)  Latvia 0.879 Increase 0.51%
Decrease (2)  LithuaniaIncrease 0.32%
39Increase (6)  Croatia 0.878Increase 0.53%
40Steady  Qatar 0.875Increase 0.45%
Increase (6)  Saudi Arabia Increase 0.70%
42Steady  Portugal 0.874Increase 0.42%
43 Decrease (10)  San Marino 0.867 Decrease 0.32%
44Steady  Chile 0.860Increase 0.47%
45Increase (9)  Turkey 0.855Increase 1.10%
Decrease (5)  SlovakiaIncrease 0.14%
47Steady  Hungary 0.851Increase 0.22%
48Decrease (6)  Argentina 0.849Increase 0.15%
49Steady  Kuwait 0.847Increase 0.36%
50Increase (1)  Montenegro 0.844Increase 0.38%
51Decrease (2)  Saint Kitts and Nevis 0.838Increase 0.49%
52Increase (8)  Uruguay 0.830Increase 0.47%
53Increase (3)  Romania 0.827Increase 0.14%
54Increase (1)  Antigua and Barbuda 0.826Increase 0.18%
55Decrease (7)  Brunei 0.823Decrease 0.02%
56Decrease (3)  Russia 0.821Increase 0.25%
57Increase (3)  Bahamas 0.820Increase 0.21%
Increase (5)  PanamaIncrease 0.47%
59 Decrease (7)  Oman 0.819 Increase 0.22%
60Decrease (3)  Trinidad and Tobago 0.814Increase 0.30%
Increase (4)  GeorgiaIncrease 0.54%
62Increase (2)  Barbados 0.809Increase 0.18%
63Increase (6)  Malaysia 0.807Increase 0.41%
64 Increase (5)  Costa Rica 0.806 Increase 0.39%
65 Increase (3)  Serbia 0.805 Increase 0.39%
66Increase (6)  Thailand 0.803Increase 0.65%
67Decrease (1)  Seychelles 0.802Increase 0.30%
Decrease (4)  KazakhstanIncrease 0.38%
69 Decrease (11)  Belarus 0.801 Increase 0.12%
Close

WESP developed economies

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs' World Economic Situation and Prospects report, the following 37 countries are classified as "developed economies" as of January 2024:[17]

31 countries in Europe:

two countries in Northern America:

four countries in Asia and the Pacific:

World Bank high-income economies

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High-income economies of the world as classified by the World Bank, 2023.

According to the World Bank, the following 85 sovereign states and territories across are classified as high income economies, having a nominal GNI per capita in excess of $14,005 as of 2024:[18]

Unsovereign Territories are denoted with an asterisk (*).

Development Assistance Committee members

See also: Development Assistance Committee
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Member nations of the Development Assistance Committee

There are 29 OECD member countries and the European Union—in the Development Assistance Committee (DAC),[19] a group of the world's major donor countries that discusses issues surrounding development aid and poverty reduction in developing countries.[20] The following OECD member countries are DAC members:

25 countries in Europe:

two countries in the Americas:

two countries in Asia:

two countries in Oceania:

IMF advanced economies

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  Countries described as Advanced Economies by the IMF

According to the International Monetary Fund, 41 countries and territories are officially listed as "advanced economies",[1][21] with the addition of 7 microstates and dependencies modified by the CIA which were omitted from the IMF version:[22]

29 countries and dependencies in Europe classified by the IMF, 6 others given by the CIA:

Plusd

seven countries and territories in Asia:

three countries and territories in the Americas classified by the IMF, one territory given by the CIA :

two countries in Oceania:

d The CIA has modified an older version of the IMF's list of 38 Advanced Economies, noting that the IMF's Advanced Economies list "would presumably also cover the following nine smaller countries of Andorra, Bermuda, Faroe Islands, Guernsey, Holy See, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino[...]". San Marino (2012) and Andorra (2021) were later included in the IMF's list.[22]

Paris Club members

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Permanent members of the Paris Club

There are 22 permanent members in the Paris Club (French: Club de Paris), a group of officials from major creditor countries whose role is to find coordinated and sustainable solutions to the payment difficulties experienced by debtor countries.

15 countries in Europe:

three countries in the Americas:

three countries in Asia:

one country in Oceania:

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Comparative table (2024)

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A comparison among the developed countries in the world

Comparative table of countries with a "very high" human development (0.800 or higher), according to UNDP; "advanced" economies, according to the IMF; "high income" economies, according to the World Bank.

More information Countries, HDI ...
Developed countries
CountriesHDI[23]IMF[24]WB[25]
2023
 CroatiaYes since 2007Yes since 2023Yes since 2017
2021
 San MarinoYes since 2021Yes since 2012 Yes since 2000
2020
 AndorraYes since 2003Yes since 2020Yes since 1990
2015
 LithuaniaYes since 2005Yes since 2015 Yes since 2012
2014
 LatviaYes since 2005Yes since 2014 Yes since 2012
2011
 EstoniaYes since 2003Yes since 2011 Yes since 2006
2009
 SlovakiaYes since 2006Yes since 2009 Yes since 2007
 Czech RepublicYes since 2001Yes since 2009 Yes since 2006
2008
 MaltaYes since 2003Yes since 2008 Yes since 2002
 LiechtensteinYes since 2000Yes since 2008 Yes since 1990
 MonacoYes before 1990[26] Yes since 2008 Yes before 1990
2007
 SloveniaYes since 1998Yes since 2007 Yes since 1997
2005
 PortugalYes since 2005Yes since 1989[27] Yes since 1994
2001
 GreeceYes since 2001Yes since 1989[27] Yes since 1996
 South KoreaYes since 1999Yes since 1997[28] Yes since 2001
 CyprusYes since 2001Yes since 2001 Yes since 1988
1999
 SingaporeYes since 1999Yes since 1997[28] Yes since 1987
1997
 IsraelYes since 1991Yes since 1997[28] Yes since 1987
 TaiwanN/A[Note 1]Yes since 1997[28] Yes since 1987
1996
 IrelandYes since 1996Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
1995
 SpainYes since 1995Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
 ItalyYes since 1995Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
1994
 FinlandYes since 1994Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
1993
 FranceYes since 1993Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
1992
 United KingdomYes since 1992Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
 AustriaYes since 1992Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
 LuxembourgYes since 1992Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
1991
 DenmarkYes since 1991Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
1987
 New ZealandYes before 1990Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
 IcelandYes before 1990Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
 SwedenYes before 1990Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
 AustraliaYes before 1990Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
 BelgiumYes before 1990Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
 CanadaYes before 1990Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
 GermanyYes before 1990Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
 JapanYes before 1990Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
 NetherlandsYes before 1990Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
 United StatesYes before 1990Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
 NorwayYes before 1990Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
  SwitzerlandYes before 1990Yes since 1945 Yes since 1987
In process
Countries HDI[23] IMF[24] WB[25]
 RussiaYes since 2013NoYes since 2023
 Uruguay Yes since 2014 No Yes since 2012
 ChileYes since 2007NoYes since 2012
 Trinidad and TobagoYes since 2021NoYes since 2006
 RomaniaYes since 2013NoYes since 2021
 Panama Yes since 2019 No Yes since 2021
 BahamasYes since 2016NoYes since 1987
 HungaryYes since 2005NoYes since 2014
 PolandYes since 2003NoYes since 2009
 KuwaitYes since 2014NoYes since 1987
 BahrainYes since 2012NoYes since 2001
 OmanYes since 2012NoYes since 2007
 Saudi ArabiaYes since 2010NoYes since 2004
 United Arab EmiratesYes since 2004NoYes since 1987
 BruneiYes since 1999NoYes since 1990
 QatarYes since 1996NoYes since 1987
 Saint Kitts and NevisYes since 2011NoYes since 2012
 SeychellesYes since 2022NoYes since 2014
 Antigua and Barbuda Yes since 2007 No Yes since 2012
 Barbados Yes since 2016 No Yes since 2006
Other recognitions
Countries HDI[23] IMF[24] WB[25]
 SerbiaYes since 2019NoNo
 Costa RicaYes since 2019NoNo
 ArgentinaYes since 2006NoNo
 MontenegroYes since 2013NoNo
 KazakhstanYes since 2015NoNo
 MalaysiaYes since 2016NoNo
 TurkeyYes since 2015NoNo
 Georgia Yes since 2019 No No
 Belarus Yes since 2012 No No
 Bulgaria No No Yes since 2023
 Guyana No No Yes since 2022
 Thailand Yes since 2021 No No
 Nauru No No Yes since 2019
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [N 1]
    The HDI annual report compiled by the UNDP does not include Taiwan because it is no longer a UN member state, and is neither included as part of the People's Republic of China by the UNDP when calculating data for China.[29] Taiwan's Statistical Bureau calculated its HDI to be 0.926 based on UNDP's 2010 methodology,[30][31] which would place Taiwan well within the group of "Very high human development" at 19th globally in 2021 within the 2022 UNDP report.[32][33]

References

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