So, First World now includes the most industrialized powers originally labeled Second World (Russia and China, for example) as well as some originally neutral Third World countries that have become wealthy and industrialized due to high oil revenue (Venezuela and Saudi Arabia).
The First World consisted of the U.S., Western Europe and their allies. The Second World was the so-called Communist Bloc: the Soviet Union, China, Cuba and friends. The remaining nations, which aligned with neither group, were assigned to the Third World. The Third World has always had blurred lines.
For example, in the Western theory, China and India belong respectively to the second and third worlds, but in Mao's theory both China and India are part of the Third World which he defined as consisting of exploited nations.
Second World countries were the communist, socialist countries of the Eastern bloc, led primarily by the Soviet Union and China, many of which signed the Warsaw Pact of 1955. Third World countries were those neutral countries not aligned with either power. These definitions lasted throughout the Cold War (approx.
Examples of first world countries include the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Several Western European nations qualify as well, especially Great Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Scandinavian countries. The ways that first world countries are defined can vary.
This definition includes the countries of North America and Western Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. In contemporary society, the First World is viewed as countries that have the most advanced economies, the greatest influence, the highest standards of living, and the greatest technology.
The term Third World was originally coined in times of the Cold War to distinguish those nations that are neither aligned with the West (NATO) nor with the East, the Communist bloc. Today the term is often used to describe the developing countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Australia/Oceania.
By the first definition, some examples of second world countries include: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, and China, among others.
What Does “First World” Mean? The modern definition of “first world” is used to classify countries that are highly industrialized and with advanced economies. First-world countries include the United States, Canada, Japan, and Western European countries.
On October 1, 1949, Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong declared the creation of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, national gross domestic product per capita reached 85,698 yuan in 2022, or about US$12,741 based on the yuan's average exchange rate last year. That puts the country just slightly below the World Bank's high-income threshold of US$13,205, as of July 2022.
Some consensus has concluded that China has reached the qualifications of superpower status, citing China's growing political clout and leadership in the economic sectors has given the country renewed standings in the International Community.
It also has a high HDI score, and it is one of the most industrialized and developed countries in the world. So, if what you mean by a third world country is one that is poor and has a struggling economy, then Taiwan is what you would call a first world country.
Pakistan was one of the first countries that recognized the People's Republic of China. Over the years, the relationship has blossomed into an “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership”.
World War II was a conflict that involved virtually every part of the world from 1939 to 1945. The clash was between the Axis powers, which primarily included Germany, Italy, and Japan, and the Allied powers, which included Great Britain, France, the United States, the Soviet Union, and China.
The first world refers to the countries that are more developed and industrialized societies; in other words, capitalist societies that aligned with the U.S. and NATO during the Cold War. This includes North America, Japan, Western Europe and Australia.
Thus, the richest countries in the world are those with the highest GDP per capita. Currently, the richest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita is Luxembourg, with a GDP per capita of $135,700. Other wealthy countries include Bermuda, Ireland, and Switzerland, all with GDP per capita above $80,000.
Alternatives to the term Third World
The United Nations Member States Monaco, Nauru, North Korea, and Somalia are typically excluded from the Human Development Index. Were they to be included, all but Monaco would likely rank as developing or least-developed countries.
Being a developing country, Thailand is often categorized by today's standards as “Third World”, but it's interesting that Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation not colonized by the West and an ally to the USA during the Cold War.
A view in Taiwan is that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are both sovereign, thus forming "two Chinas", or "one China, one Taiwan".
Hong Kong is a highly developed territory and has a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.952, ranking fourth in the world. The city has a very low homicide rate, the second highest life expectancy, and a public transport rate exceeding 90%.
Australia and Antarctica are neither definitely Old World nor definitely New World, since the terms "Old World" and "New World" were used before their discovery by Europeans. The New World is one of the names used for the American continents, in use since the 16th century.
Australia is considered a wealthy nation with a market-based economy that has a comparatively high gross domestic product and per capita income. Its economy is driven by the service sector and the export of commodities. [Explore the top universities in Australia.]
Australia has a highly developed market economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally. Australia is a regional power, and has the world's thirteenth-highest military expenditure.