Measuring development

• What is development?

  Development is when a country improves and life gets better for the people living there.
• How is the development of different countries compared?

  By using "measures of development".
• What is gross domestic product (GDP)?


  Total value of goods and services a country produces in a year. It is a measurement of a country's wealth.
• What is GDP per capita?

  The gross domestic product divided by the population of a country.
• What is gross national income (GNI)?

  Total value of goods and services a country produces including overseas in a year. It is a measurement of a country's wealth.
• What is GNI per capita?

  The gross national income divided by the population of the country.
• What is birth rate?

  The number of babies born a year per thousand of the population. It is a measurement of women's rights.
• What is death rate?

  The number of deaths per thousand of the population per year. It is a measurement of a country's health.
• What is life expectancy?

  The average age a person can expect to live up to. It is a measurement of a country's health.
• What is infant mortality rate?

  The number of babies who died under 1 years old, per thousand of babies born. It is a measurement of a country's health.
• What is literacy rate?

  The percentage of adults who can read or write. It is a measurement of a country's education.
• What is human development index (HDI)?

  The number calculated using life expectancy, education level and GDP. It is a measurement of lots of things.
• Economic: Progress in economic growth (how wealthy a country is) e.g. level of industrialisation and use of technology.

  Social: Progress in people's standard of living e.g. better healthcare and access to clean water.

  Environmental: Progress in management and protection of the environment e.g. reducing pollution and increasing recycling.