Development and Inequality
Countries differ in income, health and education.
About this topic
Development means improving people's quality of life: income, health, education and living standards. Indicators: GDP/GNI per capita, life expectancy, literacy and the Human Development Index (HDI). Countries are described as high-, middle- and low-income. A single measure can mislead, since an average income may hide huge differences between rich and poor, so geographers combine several indicators.
A gap exists between richer nations and poorer ones, and within countries, for example between a capital city and remote rural areas. HDI combines life expectancy, years of schooling and income into a score between 0 and 1; Norway scores very high, while Niger scores low. Terms like developed and developing are being replaced because they imply a single path.
Causes include colonial history, trade terms (low prices for raw materials), conflict, poor governance, disease, geography (landlocked) and debt. Strategies: aid, fair trade, education, microfinance (small loans), appropriate technology and sustainable development. The UN's SDGs set targets for progress, such as ending poverty and ensuring clean water by 2030. A frequent misconception is that development is only about money; health, freedom and education matter just as much, and some countries have improved well-being greatly with modest incomes.
Key ideas
- GDP per person
- Human Development Index
- Causes: history, geography, politics
Quick check
Use cases: where Development and Inequality helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Development and Inequality before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Development and Inequality without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Development and Inequality changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Development and Inequality in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Geography helps with city planning, climate, trade and migration.
Frequently asked questions
What is Development and Inequality?
Countries differ in income, health and education.
What will I learn in Development and Inequality?
GDP per person. Human Development Index. Causes: history, geography, politics.
Is Development and Inequality part of Geography?
Yes. It is one of 40 Geography topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Development and Inequality lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Development and Inequality?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.