CIA developed country list
.png)
In an appendix to the CIA's World Factbook, there is an entry identifying developed countries (DCs).[1][2]
The CIA notes that the Developed Countries form
- the top group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs);[1]
The CIA argues that this list
- includes the market-oriented economies of the mainly democratic nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).[1]
However, seven new countries have joined the OECD since this list was created in the early 1990s: Mexico (1994), the Czech Republic (1995), South Korea (1996), Hungary (1996), Poland (1996), Slovakia (2000) and Chile (2010).
The CIA adds;
- Bermuda, Israel, South Africa, and the European ministates[1]
to the list, alongside the OECD members. The criteria for including these states are not mentioned.
The CIA argues that the countries in its list are;
- also known as the First World, high-income countries, the North, industrial countries;[1]
The CIA notes that these countries;
- generally have a per capita GDP in excess of $10,000; although four OECD countries and South Africa have figures well under $10,000; and two of the excluded OPEC countries have figures of more than $10,000.[1]
These descriptions are based on the pre-1996 GDP per capita figures. As of today, no member of the OECD has a GDP per capita of less than $10,000 and many excluded countries have a GDP per capita that is higher than $10,000 dollars.
The CIA notes that the 34 Developed Countries (DCs) are as follows:[1]
•  Andorra |
•  Faroe Islands |
•  Ireland |
•  Monaco |
•  Spain |
|
•  Australia |
•  Finland |
•  Israel |
•  Netherlands |
•  Sweden |
|
•  Austria |
•  France |
•  Italy |
•  New Zealand |
•  Switzerland |
|
•  Belgium |
•  Germany |
•  Japan |
•  Norway |
•  Turkey |
|
•  Bermuda |
•  Greece |
•  Liechtenstein |
•  Portugal |
•  United Kingdom |
|
•  Canada |
•  Holy See |
•  Luxembourg |
•  San Marino |
•  United States |
|
•  Denmark |
•  Iceland |
•  Malta |
•  South Africa |
•  South Korea |
The CIA concludes its definition with the note that this list is;
- similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term "advanced economies" that adds Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan; but drops Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey.[1]
This description is based on an old version of the IMF's list and also erroneously implies that Mexico is on the CIA's Developed Country (DC) list.
