Each state has a number of features that researchers change using certain indicators. Their comparison and analysis allow us to draw conclusions about the development and state of the economy, demography, and geography. The classification of countries is needed to determine the influence of each of them on the entire world order. The exchange of experience will make it possible to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the economic and social organization of states and improve performance.
Countries and territories
The economic definition of a country is different from the legal or even ordinary understanding of people.
The classification of countries can take into account both territorial units recognized by countries and those not. Such territories can pursue an independent economic policy and take into account their development. Therefore, they are taken into account when compiling the classification of countries according to the economic level of development. This applies to some island dependent territories of Great Britain, France, and the Netherlands. Country classificationtreats such areas as separate economic units.
Universal international organizations collect and analyze information about their member countries. They include almost all world states.
Classification principle
Since the classifications of the countries of the world are carried out mainly by international organizations (UN, IMF, WB, etc.), the most common data collection systems are designed for the interests of these committees. Colored on the map below:
- green - economically developed countries;
- yellow - moderately developed countries;
- red - third world countries.
Thus, the World Bank collects information about the level of countries' economies. At the same time, the UN is paying attention to their demographic and socio-economic situation.
Scientists distinguish several basic types of data collection and processing, which includes the classification of the countries of the world.
According to the type of socio-economic system, there was a classification dividing the world into capitalist, socialist and developing states.
According to the level of development, countries are classified as developed and developing.
The geographical classification of countries takes into account the size and location of countries on the world map. Their number and structure of the population, natural resources are also taken into account.
Geographic classification
Determining and evaluating the position of a country on the world map is quite important. From this you can build on otherclassifications. The location of the country on the world map is also relative. After all, the boundaries of a certain territorial unit can change. But all changes and existing conditions can influence the conclusions about the state of affairs of a particular country or area.
There are countries with a very large territory (Russia, USA, Canada, India), and there are microstates (Vatican, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco). Geographically, they are also divided into those with and without access to the sea. There are continental and island countries.
The combination of these factors often determines the socio-economic situation, which displays the classification of the countries of the world.
Classification by population
To build a system of world order, it is also important to take into account the classification of countries by population. It implies a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the demographic situation.
According to this point of view, all states are divided into countries with a large, medium and small population. Moreover, in order to draw adequate conclusions about this indicator, the number of people per territorial unit is calculated. This allows us to estimate population density.
The population is considered in terms of its growth. Compare birth and death rates. If the population growth is positive, this indicates an excess of births over deaths, and vice versa. Today, growth is observed in India, the USA, Great Britain and a number of African countries. Decreasing population - in Eastern Europe,Russia, Arab states.
Classification of countries by population is based on the demographic structure. The share of the able-bodied, educated population, as well as nationality, is important for analysis.
Classification by economic development
The most common classification used by many organizations and global research institutions is based on the economic development of countries.
The development of this typology was based on many years of research. It is constantly being refined and improved.
All world states, according to this approach, can be divided into highly-, medium- and underdeveloped economically areas. This is the most widely used method. The classification of countries by level of development does not take into account post-socialist and socialist countries.
Based on the presented typology, international organizations draw conclusions about the appropriateness of financial assistance to the least developed countries.
Each of these groups can have its own subtypes.
Developed countries
The group of developed countries includes the USA, Canada, Western Europe, South Africa, the Commonwe alth of Australia, New Zealand.
These countries have a high economic level of development and significant influence on the political situation in the world. Their role in general trade relations is predominant.
Classification of countries according to the level of economic development distinguishes this group of countries as owners of high scientific and technicalcapacity.
Highly capitalist countries have the greatest influence on the global economy, six of which are members of the G7. These are Canada, USA, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, France, Italy. Smaller highly developed countries (Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, etc.) have a narrower specialization in the world economy.
The socio-economic classification of countries in the group under consideration singles out the countries of resettlement capitalism as a separate subgroup. These are South Africa, New Zealand, Israel, Australia. All of them were once British colonies. They have agrarian and raw material specialization in world trade.
Economically developed countries
Classifying countries according to the development of economic relations, they distinguish a group historically and socio-economically different from the previous typology.
There are not many such states, but they can be divided into certain types. The first group includes countries that develop independently and have reached an average level in the sphere of management. Ireland can be considered a striking example of such a state.
The classification of countries according to the level of economic development highlights the next subgroup of the state that has lost its former influence on the world economy. They are somewhat behind in their development from the highly capitalist states. According to the socio-economic classification, this subgroup includes countries such as Greece, Spain, Portugal.
Developing countries
This group is the most numerous and diverse. It includes countries that have a number of difficulties in the sphere of economic relations, both internal and external. They lack skills and qualified personnel. The external debt of such countries is very large. They have a strong economic dependence.
The classification of countries by development also includes states in whose territory wars or interethnic conflicts are fought. They predominantly occupy low positions in world trade.
Developing countries supply other states mainly with raw materials or agricultural products. Unemployment is high and resources are scarce.
This group includes about 150 countries. Therefore, there are subtypes here that deserve separate consideration.
Views of developing countries
Classification of countries by economic development in the developing group identifies several subgroups.
The first of these are key countries (Brazil, India, Mexico). They have the greatest potential among similar states. Their economy is highly diversified. Such countries have significant labor, raw materials and economic resources.
Young Liberated States include about 60 countries. There are many oil exporters among them. Their economy is still developing, and in the future its condition will depend only on the socio-economic measures adopted by the authorities.solutions. These states include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Libya, Brunei, Qatar.
The third subgroup is countries with relatively mature capitalism. These are states where the dominance of the market economy has only been established in the last few decades.
Classification of countries in relation to mature capitalism
In the subgroup of countries with relatively mature capitalism, a number of subspecies are distinguished. The first includes states of the resettlement type with the early development of dependent capital (Argentina, Uruguay). Their population has a fairly high standard of living, which has become possible thanks to a number of new reforms.
The classification of countries in the considered subgroup highlights the states of large-scale development of capitalism. Foreign injections into the economy are massive due to the export of raw materials from large mineral deposits.
The next subspecies characterizes the countries of outwardly oriented opportunistic development of capitalism. Their economy is focused on exports and import substitution.
There are also countries of concession development and resort-type "tenant" countries.
GDP and GNI levels
There is a common classification by GDP per capita. It distinguishes the central and peripheral regions. The central states include 24 states, the total level of GDP in world production of which is 55% and 71% in total exports.
Group of central states has GDP per capitapopulation of about $27,500. The countries of the near periphery have a similar figure of $8,600. Developing countries are relegated to the far periphery. Their GDP is only $3,500, sometimes even less.
The World Bank's economic classification of countries uses GNI per capita. This makes it possible to single out 56 countries in the group of countries with the considered high indicator. Moreover, the states of the G7, although they are included in it, are not in the first places.
The average level of GNI was recorded in Russia, Belarus, China and 102 other countries. Low GNI is observed in the states of the far periphery. This includes 33 states, including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan.
UN classification
The United Nations has singled out only 60 developed countries that have high rates in the field of market relations, scientific and technological progress, and production efficiency. The organization also takes into account the level of rights and social standards of the population. The per capita GDP in these countries is over $25,000. According to this indicator, Russia is also among the developed countries. However, the qualitative indicators of economic and social processes do not allow us to consider the Russian Federation, according to the UN, a developed country.
All post-socialist countries are classified by the organization as states with economies in transition. The rest of the countries that were not included in the previous two groups are classified by the UN as developing countries that have problems in the socio-economic sphere to a greater or lesser extent.
The listed factors andcharacteristics make it possible to group states into certain subspecies. The classification of countries is a powerful tool for comparative analysis, on the basis of which you can plan and improve their situation in the future.
