Classifying Development
Geography: KS3, topic 4.1.1
Development and Classification
There are three main ways of defining countries based on their development.
Development
- Development can be defined as an improvement to people’s quality of life.
- So, as a country develops, the quality of life for people in that country improves.
- Countries can be classified according to their level of development.
Developed countries
- Developed countries are countries such as England, France, The USA, Canada or Japan where the quality of life is high.
- They are developed because they are able to provide the population with goods and services needed for a good quality of life.
- For example, most people in developed countries have access to food, a clean water supply, healthcare and education.
Emerging countries
- Emerging countries are countries such as China and India where the quality of life has improved in recent years but it is still not good enough to be a developed country.
- These countries were poor and offered a low quality of life but have recently increased in development to become emerging.
BRICS countries
- In the 21st century, four countries in particular have been referred to as ‘emerging countries’.
- Together, they are known as the BRICS countries.
- The BRIC countries are: Brazil, India, Russia, China and South Africa.
- They are developing quickly and as they develop, they are able to spend money on healthcare, education and infrastructure to improve the quality of life for people in the country.
Developing countries
- Developing countries are the poorest countries in the world and so the quality of life here is lower.
- For example, these countries might struggle to have enough income to spend on healthcare and education.
- This results in people dying younger and being less well educated.
Developing countries examples
- A country might be developing if it has been at war.
- E.g. Afghanistan.
- Or if its regularly hit by natural disasters.
- E.g. Haiti.
Test yourself on Classifying Development
Which is NOT a way of defining a country based on their development?
Which is NOT an example of a developed country?
Which is NOT an example of a BRICS country?