Download Level of Development, Module 5, Lesson 5

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Title: Development
World Geography, Module 5, Lesson 5
Summary: World Geography, Module 5, Lesson 5 - Given statistics on GDP, distribution of workforce, amount of
energy consumption, and numbers of telephones per person, students will identify and explain the
level of development.
What is Level of Development?
Click below to view a short video that introduces level of development.
Now that you have learned about level of development, try this matching game to test
your knowledge.
(Match each word with the correct description, when you are finished, click Mark
Answers to see how many you got correct)
How is Level of Development Categorized?
Geographers categorize countries based on level of development by grouping nations as more developed, newly
industrialized, or less developed.
Click on the question marks below to find out which countries are grouped in each of the three categories.
Activity:
These two photographs from Japan and Central African Republic show some of the differences between
more developed and less developed countries. Based on these photos, how do you think daily life in these
two places is different? What can you see in the photographs that might indicate the level of development
in each place?
Japan
Source: Downtown Tokyo, route79, Flickr
Central African Republic
Source: Market Square, Teseum, Flickr
Interpreting Demographic Data
Use demographic data to determine a country's Level of Development.
Use the table and step by step procedures below to practice analyzing demographic data. Start
with Step 1 and then click the arrow in the box to proceed to the next step.*
Source: Human Development Reports, http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics
*These developmental categories are very general because there's no rigid standard as to when a country
moves from one category to another. As a rule of thumb for more developed countries, the literacy rate
should be close to 99%, life expectancy at least 76 years, and GDP per capita over $25,000 (some reports
use Gross National Income instead of Gross National Product, which is just a different way of measuring
total economic wealth).
Newly industrialized countries may excel in one of these categories, but not another. The leading indicator
for a newly industrialized country is a mid-range, but growing GDP per capita. Brazil's GDP per capita has
almost doubled since 2000 as it has modernized its economy.
Finally, less developed countries, as seen in the example above, frequently have literacy rates below 70%,
life expectancy under 70 years, and a GDP per capita under $8,000.
The important thing to understand is that level of development refers to the overall state of a nation and
there are many ways to measure it. The following are some other indicators.

Distribution of the Labor Force is an indicator that determines how many people work in particular
occupations. For example: A less developed nation like Afghanistan has a labor force distribution
of – agriculture 78.6%, industry 5.7%, services 15.7%. This means that most of the population
works in agriculture that supplies the nation's food.
While in the United States, a more developed nation, the labor force distribution is - farming,
forestry, and fishing 0.7%, manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and crafts 20.3%,
managerial, professional, and technical 37.3%, sales and office 24.2%, other services 17.6%. This
means that less than 1% of workers are in agriculture and the rest of the labor force is varied.

Energy consumption can also be used as an indicator to determine the level of development.
Energy consumption is the percentage of energy (usually electricity) that is used by a country.
For example: In a more developed country, such as Japan, energy consumption is 858.5 billion
kWh. Japan is ranked #4 in the world in consumption; this is most likely due to Japan having the
ability to supply electricity to most of its population.
However, a less developed nation, such as Haiti, has energy of consumption of only 309 million
kWh. It is ranked # 166 in the world in consumption; this is due to the lack of electricity available
in the country.
You are the Geographer! The LOD Mystery I
You are the Geographer!
The LOD Mystery I
What factors would you use to measure the level of development of a country?
Click on the factors that you would use to measure the level of development of a
country and read the information about a mystery country in the pop-up window that appears.
Once you have enough information to determine the level of development, click on your answer
choice below: more developed, newly industrialized, or less developed.
You are the Geographer! The LOD Mystery II
You are the Geographer!
The LOD Mystery II
What factors would you use to measure the level of development of a country?
Click on the factors that you would use to measure the level of development of a
country and read the information about a mystery country in the pop-up window that appears.
Once you have enough information to determine the level of development, click on your answer
choice below: more developed, newly industrialized, or less developed.
You the Geographer! Exploration
Now that you are an expert geographer, it's time for you to challenge yourself. Use your new research skills to explore
development in various countries:
Exploration 1: Human Development Indices World Map
Directions for Human Development Indices World Map

View the: Human Development Indices World Map
o
Or click on this link http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/data/hd_map/

Click on the year 1980 and notice that North America, Europe, and Australia had the highest HDI in 1980.

Click on the subsequent years (1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2007) and notice which countries or
regions had increases in HDI.

Describe the global trends that have occurred in regard to the increase in the human development index
(HDI). Which places had increases? Make a hypothesis (an educated guess) about why you think some
countries experienced an increase in their human development during the past 30 years.
Exploration 2: What Does Freedom Have to do with LOD?
Directions for What does Freedom Have to do with LOD?

Look at the data in the chart below and examine the relationship between civil liberties (freedoms that people
have) and the GDP per capita.

Think about the following questions:
1. Do the countries with the highest levels of freedom (score of 1) have high or low GDP?
2. Do the countries that have the lowest levels of freedom (scores of 6 and 7) have high or low GDP?

Describe how freedom is related to a nation's level of development. Write a few sentences about what you
think could be done to help improve the economic conditions of poorer countries in the world.
The civil liberties ranking is based upon freedom of expression, the right to assemble, equal protection under the law,
and individual rights. A score of 1 represents the highest level of freedom and 7 the lowest level of freedom.
Data Sources: Freedom House, CIA World Factbook