THIRD WORLD

COUNTRIES
"Third World" is a phrase that can be used to describe a
class of economically inferior nations. Historical
observations have developed a four-part segmentation for
dividing the world’s economies by economic status. Third
World falls behind First World and Second World but is
ahead of Fourth World though Fourth World countries are
hardly recognized at all.
 U N D E R S TA N D I N G T H I R D
WORLD COUNTRIES

In general, nations are typically characterized by economic status

and key economic metrics like gross domestic product (GDP), GDP
growth, GDP per capita, employment growth, and an unemployment
rate. Third World countries typically have inferior results to First
World and Second World countries in these areas. In these
countries, inferior production and labor market characteristics are
usually paired with relatively low levels of education, poor
infrastructure, improper sanitation, limited access to health care,
and lower costs of living.
Third World countries are often among those on close watch by
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank which
seek to provide global aid for the purposes of projects that help to
improve infrastructure and economic systems comprehensively.
Third World countries can also be the target of many investors
seeking to identify potentially high returns through possible
growth opportunities though risks are also relatively higher.
While Third World countries are generally characterized as
inferior economically, innovative and industrial breakthroughs
can lead to substantial improvements in a short amount of time.
 DIVIDING THE WORLD
In the modern-day, most countries on Earth fall into one of
three general categories known as developed, emerging, and
frontier. The world segmentations have somewhat migrated
to fit within these categories overall. Developed, emerging,
and frontier follows similar standards for segment inclusion.
The developed countries are the most industrialized with the
strongest economic characteristics. The emerging countries
are classified as such because they demonstrate significant
strides in various economic growth areas though their
metrics are not stable.
The frontier markets closely mirror the Third
World classification. These countries are the most
inferior economically to the First World and Second
World nations though they do generally get more
attention than Fourth World countries.
 COMMON CHARACTERISTICS
OF DEVELOPING ECONOMIES

1. Low per capita real income

Low per capita real income is one of the most defining
characteristics of developing economies. They suffer from low per
capita real income level, which results in low savings and low
investments. It means the average person doesn’t earn enough
money to invest or save money. They spend whatever they make.
Thus, it creates a cycle of poverty that most of the population
struggles to escape. The percentage of people in absolute poverty
(the minimum income level) is high in developing countries.
2. High population growth rate/size
Another common characteristic of developing countries is that they either have high
population growth rates or large populations. Often, this is because of a lack of
family planning options, lack of sex education and the belief that more children could
result in a higher labor force for the family to earn income. This increase in recent
decades could be because of higher birth rates and reduced death rates through
improved health care.

3. High rates of unemployment

In rural areas, unemployment suffers from large seasonal variations. However,

unemployment is a more complex problem requiring policies beyond traditional fixes.
4. Dependence on primary sector
Almost 75% of the population of low-income countries is rurally
based. As income levels rise, the structure of demand changes, which
leads to a rise in the manufacturing sector and then the services
sector.
5. Dependence on exports of primary commodities
Since a significant portion of output originates from the primary
sector, a large portion of exports is also from the primary sector. For
example, copper accounts for two-thirds of Zambia’s exports.
 THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES

MEXICO TUVALU MALI

INDIA NIGER LIBERIA

BRAZIL CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC YEMEN

PHILIPPINES SOUTH SUDAN ETHIOPIA

THAILAND CHAD HAITAI

JAMAICA BURUNDI AFGHANISTAN

PERU SIERRA LEONE

SOMALIA BURKINA
 PHILIPPINES

Philippines, island country of Southeast Asia in the

western Pacific Ocean. It is an archipelago consisting of
some 7,100 islands and islets lying about 500 miles (800
km) off the coast of Vietnam. Manila is the capital, but
nearby Quezon City is the country’s most-populous city.
Both are part of the National Capital Region (Metro Manila),
located on Luzon, the largest island. The second largest
island of the Philippines is Mindanao, in the southeast.
 PHILIPPINES GDP
Philippines gdp for 2018 was $330.91B, a 5.51% increase from 2017.
Philippines gdp for 2017 was $313.62B, a 2.86% increase from 2016.
Philippines gdp for 2016 was $304.90B, a 4.14% increase from 2015.
Philippines gdp for 2015 was $292.77B, a 2.88% increase from 2014.
Philippines GDP - Historical Data
Year GDP Per Capita Growth
2018 $330.91B $3,103 6.24%
2017 $313.62B $2,982 6.68%
2016 $304.90B $2,941 6.88%
2015 $292.77B $2,867 6.07%
 P H I L I P P I N E S B I RT H R AT E

Chart and table of the Philippines birth rate from 1950 to 2020. United Nations
projections are also included through the year 2100.
The current birth rate for Philippines in 2020 is 20.177 births per 1000
people, a 0.98% decline from 2019.
The birth rate for Philippines in 2019 was 20.377 births per 1000 people, a
0.97% decline from 2018.
The birth rate for Philippines in 2018 was 20.576 births per 1000 people, a
3.31% decline from 2017.
The birth rate for Philippines in 2017 was 21.280 births per 1000 people, a
3.2% decline from 2016.
Philippines - Historical Birth Rate Data
Year Birth Rate Growth Rate
2020 20.177 -0.980%
2019 20.377 -0.970%
2018 20.576 -3.310%
2017 21.280 -3.200%
2016 21.984 -3.100%
2015 22.688 -3.010%
 P H I L I P P I N E S D E AT H R AT E

Chart and table of the Philippines death rate from 1950 to 2020. United
Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.
The current death rate for Philippines in 2020 is 5.968 deaths per 1000
people, a 1.15% increase from 2019.
The death rate for Philippines in 2019 was 5.900 deaths per 1000 people,
a 1.18% increase from 2018.
The death rate for Philippines in 2018 was 5.831 deaths per 1000 people,
a 0.19% increase from 2017.
The death rate for Philippines in 2017 was 5.820 deaths per 1000 people,
a 0.19% increase from 2016.
Philippines - Historical Death Rate Data
Year Death Rate Growth Rate
2020 5.968 1.150%
2019 5.900 1.180%
2018 5.831 0.190%
2017 5.820 0.190%
2016 5.809 0.210%
2015 5.797 0.190%
 P H I L I P P I N E S L I T E R A C Y R AT E

Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can
both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about
their everyday life.
Philippines literacy rate for 2013 was 96.40%, a 0.98% increase from
2008.
Philippines literacy rate for 2008 was 95.42%, a 2.83% increase from
2003.
Philippines literacy rate for 2003 was 92.59%, a 0.01% decline from 2000.
Philippines literacy rate for 2000 was 92.60%, a 1.32% decline from 1994.
BIRTH RATE
DEATH RATE
LITERACY RATE
PLASTIC WASTE
GENERATION
 REFERENCES

https://www.intelligenteconomist.com/characteristics-of-develo
ping-economies
/
http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/third-world-countr
ies
/
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/third-world.asp

https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/
https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines/Cultural-life