7.3 Measures of Development

Per capita

To figure out the per capita, you will divide the total by the population of the country.

Formal economies

Economic activities included in GDP or GNI calculations; these sectors are registered, pay taxes, and provide worker benefits.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Measure of the total values of all goods and services produced in the country

Human Development Index (HDI)

A composite measure of a country's development that accounts for life expectancy, education, and income.

Gross National Product (GNP)

The total economic output produced by a country's residents and businesses, regardless of their location during a specific period.

Gross National Income (GNI)

Total income earned by a nation's residents and businesses

Formal versus informal economic sectors

A country with a larger formal economy than informal is generally more developed.

Informal economies

Economic activities that are not regulated by the government.

Income distribution

Refers to the way in which income is shared among the population.

Fertility rates

The average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime.

Infant mortality rates

The number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

Access to healthcare

The ability of individuals to obtain necessary medical services.

Use of fossil fuels and renewable energy

The reliance on fossil fuels compared to the adoption of renewable energy sources.

Literacy rates

The percentage of people who can read and write in a given population.

Measures of gender inequality

Includes various indices that assess reproductive health, indices of empowerment, and labor market participation.

Gender Inequality Index

A measure that incorporates reproductive health, indices of empowerment, and labor market participation.