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Developed country

Country with a developed economy and infrastructure

Developed country

Country with a developed economy and infrastructure

A comparison among the developed countries in the world (six criteria: HDI, WESP, WB, DAC, IMF, Paris Club)

A developed country, or advanced country, is a country 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. 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 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the World Bank, the Development Assistance Committee, the International Monetary Fund, the Paris Club, moreover, HDI ranking is used to reflect the composite index of life expectancy, education, and income per capita.

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. , advanced economies constitute 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.

Definition and criteria

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.

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.

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.

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.

Similar terms

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.

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."

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. Multinational corporations from these emerging markets present unique patterns of overseas expansion and knowledge acquisition from foreign countries.

Economy lists by various criteria

Human Development Index (HDI)

World map
The world map representing Human Development Index categories (based on 2023 data, published in 2025){{legend-col

| | | | | Main article: Human Development Index, List of countries by Human Development Index

World map
World map of countries or territories by Human Development Index scores in increments of 0.050 (based on 2023 data, published in 2025){{legend-col

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 2023 are considered to be of "very high human development":

Rank{{DELTA}}Country or territoryHDI value%
annual growth
(2010–2023)Iceland}}Norway}}Switzerland}}Denmark}}Germany}}Sweden}}Australia}}Netherlands}}Hong Kong}}Belgium}}Ireland}}Finland}}Singapore}}United Kingdom}}United Arab Emirates}}Canada}}Liechtenstein}}New Zealand}}United States}}South Korea}}Slovenia}}Austria}}Japan}}Malta}}Luxembourg}}France}}Israel}}Spain}}Czech Republic}}Italy}}San Marino}}Cyprus}}Andorra}}Greece}}Poland}}Estonia}}Saudi Arabia}}Bahrain}}Lithuania}}Portugal}}Latvia}}Croatia}}Qatar}}Slovakia}}Chile}}Hungary}}Argentina}}Montenegro}}Uruguay}}Oman}}Turkey}}Kuwait}}Antigua and Barbuda}}Seychelles}}Bulgaria}}Romania}}Georgia}}Saint Kitts and Nevis}}Panama}}Brunei}}Kazakhstan}}Costa Rica}}Serbia}}Russia}}Belarus}}Bahamas}}Malaysia}}North Macedonia}}Barbados}}Armenia}}Albania}}Trinidad and Tobago}}Mauritius}}Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
10.972
20.970
40.962
50.959
70.958
80.955
100.951
110.949
120.948
130.946
150.940
160.939
170.938
200.937
210.931
220.930
230.925
240.924
250.922
260.920
270.919
280.918
290.915
320.913
340.908
350.906
360.905
370.900
380.899
390.895
400.890
410.889
430.886
440.880
450.878
460.870
470.865
480.862
500.858
510.853
520.852
530.851
540.848
550.845
570.844
580.840
590.839
600.837
620.833
640.832
650.824
660.820
670.819
680.815
690.811
710.810
720.807
730.806
740.804

''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 2025:

31 countries in Europe:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom

two countries in North America:

  • Canada
  • United States

four countries in Asia and the Pacific:

  • Australia
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • New Zealand

World Bank high-income economies

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

According to the World Bank, the following sovereign states and territories across are classified as high-income economies, having a nominal GNI per capita in excess of $13,935. as of the 2025 fiscal year:

Non-sovereign Territories are denoted by an asterisk ()*.

  • American Samoa*
  • Andorra
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Aruba*
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • The Bahamas
  • Bahrain
  • Barbados
  • Belgium
  • Bermuda*
  • British Virgin Islands*
  • Brunei
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Cayman Islands*
  • Channel Islands*
  • Chile
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Curaçao*
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Faroe Islands*
  • Finland
  • France
  • French Polynesia*
  • Germany
  • Gibraltar*
  • Greece
  • Greenland*
  • Guam*
  • Guyana
  • Hong Kong*
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Isle of Man*
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Kuwait
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau*
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Nauru
  • Netherlands
  • New Caledonia*
  • New Zealand
  • Northern Mariana Islands*
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Palau
  • Panama
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Puerto Rico*
  • Qatar
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • San Marino
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Seychelles
  • Singapore
  • Sint Maarten*
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Martin*
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos Islands*
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Uruguay
  • United States Virgin Islands*

Development Assistance Committee members

There are 32 OECD member countries and the European Union—in the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), a group of the world's major donor countries that discusses issues surrounding development aid and poverty reduction in developing countries. The following OECD member countries are DAC members:

26 countries in Europe:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom

two countries in the Americas:

  • Canada
  • United States

two countries in Asia:

  • Japan
  • Republic of Korea

two countries in Oceania:

  • Australia
  • New Zealand

IMF advanced economies

publisher=International Monetary Fund}}</ref>}}

According to the International Monetary Fund, 41 countries and territories are officially listed as "advanced economies",

START REF--

-- with the addition of 7 microstates and dependencies modified by the CIA which were omitted from the IMF version:

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

  • Andorra
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom Plusd
  • Faroe Islands
  • Bailiwick of Guernsey
  • Holy See
  • Jersey
  • Liechtenstein
  • Monaco

seven countries and territories in Asia:

  • Hong Kong
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Republic of Korea
  • Macau
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan

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

  • Canada
  • Puerto Rico
  • United States
  • Bermuda d

two countries in Oceania:

  • Australia
  • New Zealand

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.

Paris Club members

Permanent members of the [[Paris Club

There are 22 permanent members in the Paris Club (), 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:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Russia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom

three countries in the Americas:

  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • United States

three countries in Asia:

  • Israel
  • Japan
  • South Korea

one country in Oceania:

  • Australia

Comparative table (2025)

Comparative table of countries with a "very high" human development (0.800 or higher), according to UNDP; "developed" economies, according to the World Economic Situation and Prospects report by UNDESA; "high-income" economies, according to the World Bank; DAC members; "advanced" economies, according to the IMF; Paris Club members. In bracket year of joining.

CountryHDIWESPWBDACIMFParis Club
Albania(2025)
Andorra(2003)(1990)(2020)
Antigua and Barbuda(2007)(2012)
Argentina(2006)
Armenia(2025)
Australia(1990)(19??)(1987)(1966)(19??)(????)
Austria(1992)(19??)(1987)(1965)(19??)(????)
Bahamas(2016)(1987)
Bahrain(2012)(2001)
Barbados(2016)(2006)
Belarus(2012)
Belgium(1990)(19??)(1987)(1961)(19??)(????)
Bosnia and Herzegovina(2025)
Brazil(2017)
Brunei(1999)(1990)
Bulgaria(2021)(2007)(2023)
Canada(1990)(19??)(1987)(1961)(19??)(????)
Chile(2007)(2012)
Costa Rica(2019)(2024)
Croatia(2007)(2013)(2017)(2023)
Cyprus(2001)(2004)(1988)(2001)
Czech Republic(2001)(2004)(2006)(2013)(2009)
Denmark(1991)(19??)(1987)(1963)(19??)(????)
Estonia(2003)(2004)(2006)(2023)(2011)
Finland(1994)(19??)(1987)(1975)(19??)(????)
France(1993)(19??)(1987)(1961)(19??)(????)
Georgia(2019)
Germany(1990)(19??)(1987)(1961)(19??)(????)
Greece(2001)(19??)(1996)(1999)url=https://www.elibrary.imf.org/doc/IMF081/14573-9781451944433/14573-9781451944433/Other_formats/Source_PDF/14573-9781455235476.pdftitle=World Economic Outlook, October 1989website=International Monetary Fundpage=12access-date=8 May 2020archive-date=28 June 2020archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628212104/https://www.elibrary.imf.org/doc/IMF081/14573-9781451944433/14573-9781451944433/Other_formats/Source_PDF/14573-9781455235476.pdfurl-status=live}}
Guyana(2022)
Hong Kong(????)(????)(????)
Hungary(2005)(2004)(2014)(2016)
Iceland(1990)(19??)(1987)(2013)(19??)
Ireland(1996)(19??)(1987)(1985)(19??)(????)
Israel(1991)(1987)title=International Monetary Fund Annual Report 1997series=Annual Report of the Executive Boarddate=October 1997url=https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/IMF011/00315-9781451945102/00315-9781451945102/ch01.xml?language=endoi=10.5089/9781451945102.011access-date=8 May 2020publisher=International Monetary Fundisbn=978-1-4519-4510-2archive-date=25 June 2020archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625192202/https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/IMF011/00315-9781451945102/00315-9781451945102/ch01.xml?language=enurl-status=live}}(2014)
Italy(1995)(19??)(1987)(1961)(19??)(????)
Japan(1990)(19??)(1987)(1961)(19??)(????)
Kazakhstan(2015)
Kuwait(2014)(1987)
Latvia(2005)(2004)(2012)(2025)(2014)
Liechtenstein(2000)(1990)(2008)
Lithuania(2005)(2004)(2012)(2022)(2015)
Luxembourg(1992)(19??)(1987)(1992)(19??)
Malaysia(2016)
Malta(2003)(19??)(2002)(2008)
Mauritius(2025)
Monaco(1990){{cite weburl=https://monacoestate.com/monaco-has-the-worlds-highest-score-on-the-u-n-human-development-index/work=Monaco Estatedate=29 November 2021access-date=8 June 2023archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708062956/https://monacoestate.com/monaco-has-the-worlds-highest-score-on-the-u-n-human-development-index/archive-date= 8 July 2023 }}(1990)(2008)
Montenegro(2013)
Nauru(2019)
Netherlands(1990)(19??)(1987)(1961)(19??)(????)
New Zealand(1990)(19??)(1987)(1973)(19??)
North Macedonia(2025)
Norway(1990)(19??)(1987)(1962)(19??)(????)
Oman(2012)(2007)
Palau(2023)
Panama(2019)(2021)
Poland(2003)(2004)(2009)(2013)
Portugal(2005)(19??)(1994)(1991)(1989)
Qatar(1996)(1987)
Romania(2013)(2007)(2021)
Russia(2013)(2023)(????)
Saint Kitts and Nevis(2011)(2012)
San Marino(2021)(2000)(2012)
Saudi Arabia(2010)(2004)
Serbia(2019)
Seychelles(2022)(2014)
Singapore(1999)(1987)(1997)
Slovakia(2006)(2004)(2007)(2013)(2009)
Slovenia(1998)(2004)(1997)(2013)(2007)
South Korea(1999)(2024)(2001)(2009)(1997)(2016)
Spain(1995)(19??)(1987)(1991)(19??)(????)
Sweden(1990)(19??)(1987)(1965)(19??)(????)
Switzerland(1990)(19??)(1987)(1968)(19??)(????)
TaiwanN/A(1987)(1997)
Trinidad and Tobago(2021)(2006)
Turkey(2015)
United Arab Emirates(2004)(1987)
United Kingdom(1992)(19??)(1987)(1961)(19??)(????)
United States(1990)(19??)(1987)(1961)(19??)(????)
Uruguay(2014)(2012)

Notes

References

References

  1. (December 2014). "Fiscal Policy and Inclusive Growth in Advanced Countries: Their Experience and Implications for Asia". [[Asian Development Bank]].
  2. (1 June 2006). "Advanced Countries Will Benefit Most from Progress in Technology, with Lesser Benefits to Other Nations". [[RAND Corporation]].
  3. [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/developed-economy.asp#axzz1legO8olO Developed Economy Definition] {{webarchive. link. (22 March 2016 . ''Investopedia'' (16 April 2010). Retrieved 12 July 2013.)
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  5. (1994). "The Courier". Commission of the European Communities.
  6. "Human development index". Economics Help.
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  8. "Standard Country and Area Codes Classifications (M49): Developed Regions". [[United Nations Statistics Division]].
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  10. Sachs, Jeffrey. (2005). "The End of Poverty". The Penguin Press.
  11. (2019). "Ecological Footprint: Managing Our Biocapacity Budget". New Society Publishers.
  12. (23 September 2021). "Neither developed nor emerging: Dual paths for outward FDI and home country innovation in emerged market MNCs". International Business Review.
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  14. "World Economic Situation and Prospects 2025". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
  15. "World Bank Country and Lending Groups". [[World Bank]].
  16. [http://www.oecd.org/dac/peer-reviews/peerreviewsofdacmembers.htm Peer reviews of DAC members – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development] {{webarchive. link. (27 May 2013 . Oecd.org. Retrieved 22 October 2013.)
  17. [http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/3/38/1896808.pdf DAC website >> "The DAC in Dates"] {{webarchive. link. (15 February 2010 , On the DAC's self-description, see the introductory letter. On other events, refer to the relevant section by date.)
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  20. CIA. (2008). "Appendix B. International Organizations and Groups.". [[World Factbook]]..
  21. "Human Development Index (HDI) {{!}} Human Development Reports". United Nations Development Programme.
  22. "World Bank Country and Lending Groups – World Bank Data Help Desk".
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  24. "World Economic Outlook, October 1989".
  25. (October 1997). "International Monetary Fund Annual Report 1997". International Monetary Fund.
  26. Nations, United. "Data Reader's Guide".
  27. "What is the human development index (HDI)? How are relevant data queried?".
  28. "人類發展指數".
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  30. "國情統計通報".
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