The Divide Between Developed and Developing Countries

One of the reasons for attention to development is the stark divide between rich and poor countries. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) each year rates countries' development according to its Human Development Index (HDI), a mix of factors intended to measure citizens' access to health, education, and a decent standard of living.

In the 2009 Human Development Index, the top five countries were Iceland, Norway, Canada, Australia,and Ireland. The United States ranked 13th on this list. The bottom five countries of the Index were Mali, Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, and Niger.¹ Why is this, the case?