Comparing Development

Geography: KS3, topic 4.1.9

We can make comparisons between the level of development and quality of life in a range of different countries using development indicators.

We can see trends among countries of different incomes.
For example, we can see that low-income countries tend to have a larger amount of the population working in primary employment.

Haiti and Somalia are low-income countries.
Haiti is the least developed nation in the western hemisphere.
Haiti's low GDP per capita ($1,800 USD) means that there is less money to invest in healthcare, education and infrastructure such as safe drinking water.
Somalia's GDP per capita is extremely low ($314 USD) and the majority of people are employed in farming.
The lack of investment in healthcare and education means that people get trapped in a cycle of poverty.

Brazil and China are middle-income countries.
In Brazil, access to health and education has improved and it has a large tertiary sector (32.5%) as a result.
In China, access to health and education has also improved though it has a large rural population still living in poverty.
China has a substantial secondary sector from manufacturing so many products for multinational companies.

Qatar is a high-income country that generates most of its wealth through oil.
The development indicators show that this money isn’t always spent on improving services in the country, such as education.
Russia is a high/middle-income country.
Russia, like China, still has some rural areas living in poverty.
Russia has a large manufacturing base to produce goods for multinational companies.

The United Kingdom and United States are high-income countries and are very similar (although GDP per capita is significantly higher in the USA).
Both countries have good investment into healthcare, education and infrastructure, meaning that the majority of their people enjoy a high quality of life and standard of living.

Test yourself on Comparing Development