Underdeveloped Country

Definition

An underdeveloped country is a nation with a low level of industrialization, low standards of living, and high rates of poverty, often characterized by limited access to education and healthcare. These countries typically struggle with economic growth and face numerous social and political challenges, affecting their population composition and demographic trends.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Underdeveloped countries often have a high dependency ratio, meaning there are more dependents (children and elderly) compared to the working-age population.
2. Limited access to education in underdeveloped countries contributes to lower literacy rates, affecting workforce skills and economic development.
3. Health issues such as malnutrition and lack of medical facilities are common in underdeveloped countries, leading to lower life expectancy.
4. Underdeveloped countries frequently rely on agriculture as their main economic activity, which can make them vulnerable to environmental changes.
5. Urbanization tends to be rapid in underdeveloped countries, leading to the growth of informal settlements or slums due to insufficient infrastructure.

Review Questions

• How does the population composition of an underdeveloped country impact its economic growth?
  • The population composition of an underdeveloped country often features a high proportion of young dependents, which can strain resources and limit economic growth. With many individuals outside the workforce, there may be insufficient human capital to drive development. Additionally, low levels of education among the population reduce productivity, making it challenging for these nations to advance economically.
• What role does healthcare play in shaping the demographic trends of underdeveloped countries?
  • Healthcare significantly influences demographic trends in underdeveloped countries by affecting life expectancy and mortality rates. Poor healthcare systems lead to higher infant mortality rates and reduced life expectancy, which skews population structures toward younger age groups. When health services are limited, it hampers overall development and can result in a cycle where poor health impacts economic productivity and growth.
• Evaluate the implications of rapid urbanization in underdeveloped countries on their population composition and socio-economic structures.
  • Rapid urbanization in underdeveloped countries often leads to significant changes in population composition as individuals migrate from rural areas in search of better opportunities. This shift can create large urban populations that outstrip infrastructure capabilities, leading to the proliferation of informal settlements. Socio-economically, this migration can exacerbate poverty levels and strain services like education and healthcare, which further complicates efforts for sustainable development.

Related terms

Less Developed Countries (LDCs):

Countries that exhibit the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development, often relying on agriculture and facing high levels of poverty.

Human Development Index (HDI):

A composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators used to rank countries into four tiers of human development.

Population Growth Rate:

The rate at which the number of individuals in a population increases in a given time period, often higher in underdeveloped countries due to higher birth rates.