Updated List of Developed and Developing Countries in 2025

Overview of Developed Countries: A developed country is a sovereign state characterized by high living standards, a robust economy, and advanced technological infrastructure compared to less industrialized nations. Key metrics for determining economic development include Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross National Product (GNP), income per capita, level of industrialization, infrastructure availability, and overall quality of life.

Developed countries typically showcase advanced post-industrial economies, where the service sector outpaces the industrial sector in wealth generation. In contrast, developing countries are in various stages of industrialization, often focusing on agriculture and basic industries, with some labeled as least developed. Here is the updated list of developed countries based on the Human Development Index (HDI).

Developed Countries List in 2025

As per the latest HDI ratings, Norway ranks highest with an HDI score of 0.957, closely followed by Ireland at 0.955. Below is the top 20 list of developed countries as evaluated in 2025:

List of Developing Countries

Developing countries are characterized by lower Human Development Index (HDI) and less socio-economic development compared to developed nations. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), there are over 152 developing countries globally. The following table highlights the top 20 developing countries based on their HDI:

Least Developed Countries List

Least developed countries are those with low Human Development Index ratings, minimal socio-economic development, and reduced GDP (Gross Domestic Product), GNP (Gross National Product), and GNI (Gross National Income). The United Nations recognizes 46 countries as least developed, with 33 from Africa, 9 from Asia, 3 from Oceania, and 1 from the Americas.

1. Afghanistan
2. Angola
3. Bangladesh
4. Benin
5. Bhutan
6. Burkina Faso
7. Burundi
8. Cambodia
9. Central African Republic
10. Chad
11. Comoros
12. Democratic Republic of the Congo
13. Djibouti
14. Eritrea
15. Ethiopia
16. Gambia
17. Guinea
18. Guinea-Bissau
19. Haiti
20. Kiribati
21. Lao People’s Democratic Republic
22. Lesotho
23. Liberia
24. Madagascar
25. Malawi
26. Mali
27. Mauritania
28. Mozambique
29. Myanmar
30. Nepal
31. Niger
32. Rwanda
33. Sao Tome and Principe
34. Senegal
35. Sierra Leone
36. Solomon Islands
37. Somalia
38. South Sudan
39. Sudan
40. Timor-Leste
41. Togo
42. Tuvalu
43. Uganda
44. United Republic of Tanzania
45. Yemen
46. Zambia

Download List of Developed and Developing Countries in PDF

You can download the latest PDF of the Developed and Developing Countries list using the link below:

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Read More: Explore our article on the European Countries List for additional insights.