Measurements of Development

• Birth Rate: The average number of babies born per thousand women aged 15-49 years old.
• Death Rate: The average number of deaths per thousand people in a population.
• Literacy Rate: The percentage of the population over 15 years who can read and write (literate). Indication of the quality of education in a country.
• Life Expectancy: The average number of years a person is expected to live in a country or region. This gives an indication of the general health of the population & healthcare within a country.
• Infant Mortality: The number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1000 live births.
• Number of people per Doctor: The average number of patients for each doctor. This gives a good indication of both the population’s access to healthcare & training / education levels.
• GDP: Gross Domestic Product, the total value of all final goods and services produced in a country in a given year. Measured using U.S dollars per capita.
• HDI: Human Development Index - A composite measure of development that combines GNI per capita with life expectancy and education. It shows a country’s wealth and what they spend that money on. HDI produces a numerical rank from 0 to 1.
• Developed Countries: Countries with a high standard of living and a high level of development.
• Developing Countries: Countries that are poorer and have a lower standard of living.
• Emerging Countries: Countries that are developing economically and politically. They are between developed and developing countries.
• QOL: Quality of Life – how well a person is doing in their life. This includes: Economic, Social, Physical, and Environmental.