Meaning & use
developing countries
Last updated
Meaning
nounplural
Countries with lower average incomes and less industrial and economic development than the wealthiest nations.
Grammar: Takes a plural verb: developing countries face many challenges. The singular is developing country.
Patterns
- aid to developing countries
- developing countries such as something
Many developing countries are investing heavily in mobile networks.
The report looks at how climate change affects developing countries.
Doctors from richer nations volunteer in clinics in developing countries.
Common combinations
- aid to developing countries
- Aid to developing countries often goes to schools and clinics.
- debt of developing countries
- The debt of developing countries rose sharply last year.
- in developing countries
- Mobile banking has grown fast in developing countries.
- exports from developing countries
- Exports from developing countries include coffee and textiles.
- many developing countries
- Many developing countries rely on farming for income.
Synonyms and how they differ
- low- and middle-income countries
- This phrase is the more precise, income-based wording used by international bodies, while developing countries is the older everyday term.
- emerging economies
- Emerging economies focuses on fast-growing markets, so it fits countries such as India or Brazil better than the poorest nations.
- Global South
- Global South is a broad geographic and political label that many writers now prefer, but it is less precise about income.
- third world
- Third world is an outdated Cold War term that many people find dismissive, so developing countries is preferred.
Opposites
Word family
- develop verb
- to grow or advance
- development noun
- economic or social growth
- developed adjective
- economically advanced, as in developed countries
- underdeveloped adjective
- not yet advanced; a term some find dismissive
Commonly confused: developing countries or developed countries?
developing countries vs developed countries
Developed countries are the wealthier, more industrial nations. Developing countries are the ones still building up their economies.
Practice
Many ___ countries have limited access to clean water, so charities fund new wells.
Choose one answer.
Developing countries are those with lower incomes still building infrastructure. Developed countries are wealthier, and the other options do not name a standard category.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “developing countries”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.