CIA developed country list

File:Map of Developed Countries (CIA World Factbook 2008).png

     Map of Developed Countries (DCs) as described by the CIA

In an appendix to the CIA's World Factbook, there is an entry identifying developed countries (DCs).

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);

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).

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

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;

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.

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:

• 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

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.

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.

See also

• Developed country

External links

• CIA World Factbook

CIA (2008). "Appendix B. International Organizations and Groups. [[World Factbook]]". Retrieved 2008-04-10. 

http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact99/361.htm