- AuthorDevon Denomme
Devon has tutored for almost two years. They have a Bachelor's in Air Traffic Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and minored in Aviation Safety and Homeland Security. They also are AT-CTI certified.
View bio - InstructorSharon Linde
Sharon has an Masters of Science in Mathematics and a Masters in Education
View bio
What is a first-world country? Learn the definition of a first-world country, see a list of examples, and discover exactly what makes a first-world country.Updated: 11/21/2023
Table of Contents
- First-World Country Definition
- List of First-World Countries
- First-World Countries vs. Third-World Countries
- First-World Designation
- Criticism of the First-World Model
- Lesson Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
What are first, second, and third world countries?
First-world countries were originally those who supported the United States and NATO during the Cold War and favored capitalism and democracy. Modernly, they are developed and industrialized nations with stable governments and economies. Second-world countries are rarely heard of today, but during the Cold War they were nations who supported the Soviet Union and communism. Third-world countries during the war were neutral and supported neither capitalism or communism. Today, a third-world country is one which does not have a stable government or economy; generally they are referred to as "developing nations."
How many countries are considered first world countries?
NATO lists 31 countries that are considered part of the first world. These are nations with strong and developed governments and economies, and they are usually industrialized. Most often, these nations are found in North America, Europe, and Oceania.
What defines a first world country?
A first-world country originally was one that allied themselves with the United States during the Cold War. In modern context, there are a number of factors that contribute to being called a first world country, including having a democratic government, having a stable economy that is most often capitalist, being industrialized, having a high Gross National Income, having a high Human Development Index rating, and having a high Press Freedom Rating.
Table of Contents
- First-World Country Definition
- List of First-World Countries
- First-World Countries vs. Third-World Countries
- First-World Designation
- Criticism of the First-World Model
- Lesson Summary
What are first-world countries? This term was first used during the Cold War to describe nations who sided with the Allied Powers of the United States and NATO. They favored capitalism and democracy as their style of government for their nations. In contrast, a second-world country supported the Soviet Union and practiced communism, while third-world countries remained neutral.
The Cold War directly followed World War II and lasted until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. While no direct fighting happened between the two major world powers during this time, the United States and the Soviet Union, tensions were very high and the world feared nuclear warfare. The United States did not want their rivals to spread their form of government, communism, to other nations and attempted to slow communism's spread. They allied with other nations who supported democracy and capitalism through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), where the law said that an attack on any member nation of this organization would be considered an attack on all member nations.
 |
Since the Cold War ended, the term "first-world" has become outdated and its meaning has changed. Typically, to be considered a modern first-world country, the nation has a high degree of industrial development and has a stable economy. The term is becoming outdated, however, and the most appropriate term to use would be a "developed country."
What Makes a First-World Country?
First-world countries are generally comprised of a specific set of traits. While the original definition of a first-world country only included nations who allied themselves with the United States and NATO, the modern use of the term has broadened to include nations that are successful and are overall well-developed. A first-world country can be classified as such by any of these traits:
- Democratic government
- A stable economy, most often capitalist
- Industrialized
- A high Gross National Income
- A high Human Development Index rating
- A high Press Freedom Index rating
Broadly speaking, these are the commonly accepted traits of a first-world country. However, there is continued debate over these criteria and some definitions of a first-world country may vary to reflect those differences.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
- Lesson
- Quiz
- Course
Today, the nations that are called first-world countries have several factors that determine whether or not this term applies to them. However, when the term was first coined in the 1950s, only a select group of United States allies could be called first-world. These nations were the original first-world countries and continue to be so unless otherwise specified:
| Belgium | Canada | Denmark |
| France | Germany | Greece |
| Iceland | Italy | Luxembourg |
| Netherlands | Norway | Portugal |
| Spain | Turkey | United Kingdom |
| United States | Australia (Originally British Colony) | New Zealand (Originally British Colony) |
| Israel (Aligned with U.S.) | Japan (Aligned with U.S.) | South Korea (Aligned with U.S.) |
| Austria (Originally Third World) | Ireland (Originally Third World) | Sweden (Originally Third World) |
| Venezuela (Originally Third World) | Switzerland (Originally Third World) | Russia (Originally Second World) |
List of top 10 First World countries in terms of Gross National Income
One of the largest determining factors for a nation to be considered a first-world country is its Gross National Income. This refers to the dollar value of each country and their total earnings at the end of each year, divided by population, in relation to other countries. The top ten highest-earning Gross National Income countries are:
- Luxembourg (66,821)
- Norway (41,941)
- United States (41,557)
- Ireland (40,003)
- Bermuda (a Territory of the United Kingdom, 36,000)
- Iceland (35,686)
- Denmark (34,718)
- San Marino (34,600)
- Canada (34,444)
- Switzerland (33,168)
List of top 10 first-world countries in terms of Human Development Index
Another way that first-world countries are determined is by their Human Development Index (HDI). This system measures a country based on the life expectancy of their citizens at birth, their education and literacy rate among adults, and the quality of life based on the Gross Domestic Income. The index is rated on a 1.0 scale and nations with higher HDI's are given a closer decimal ranking to the whole number. The top ten countries with the highest Human Development Index include:
- Norway (.956)
- Sweden (.946)
- Australia (.946)
- Canada (.943)
- Netherlands (.942)
- Belgium (.942)
- Iceland (.941)
- United Stated (.939)
- Japan (.938)
- Ireland (.936)
List of top 10 first-world countries in terms of Press Freedom Index
A final major consideration for first-world countries is their respect for freedom of the press. An annual list is created by an organization called Reporters Without Borders, which ranks the independence of media in major European countries. The top ten countries in terms of press freedom are:
- Tied for 1st: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland
- 2nd Place: Slovakia
- Tied for 3rd Place: Czech Republic, Slovenia
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Is China a first-world country? Is the U.S. a first-world country? Is Russia a first-world country? The differences between the older and modern definitions of a first-world country have left much confusion in its wake. Countries that were once considered part of the Second or the Third World may have moved up into the First World, while some first-world countries may have been demoted to a lower tier.
Both China and Russia (formerly the Soviet Union), for example, may have been part of the Second World in the past, but are now considered part of the Third World. Some nations, such as the United States and many of those in western Europe, were considered and continue to be classified as first-world countries because of their strong and structured societies. Again, a country's classification is highly subjective depending on who is being asked, so allow some lenience towards countries that may be on the borderline between first- and third-world.
Third-world countries today are considered to be underdeveloped or developing and do not have stable governments or economies. The following countries have been considered part of the Third World since the original coining of the term and continue to be classified as developing unless otherwise specified:
| Myanmar | Cuba (Originally Second World) | Libya |
| Somalia | North Korea (Originally Second World) | Sudan |
| Turkmenistan | Niger | Uzbekistan |
| Tibet | Belarus | Ivory Coast |
| Eritrea | China (Originally Second World) | Equatorial Guinea |
| Laos | Saudi Arabia | Syria |
| Zimbabwe | Western Sahara | Yemen |
| Honduras | Iraq | Iran |
| Republic of the Congo | Haiti | Rwanda |
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
The designation of first-world does not necessarily mean that the country is thriving and successful. While a country may have certain traits that make them a regional power, it may otherwise lack a stable government or economy.
Brazil is a good example of this situation. While they are one of the most developed countries in South America and enjoy a wealth of oil to trade with, Brazil lacks both a stable economy and government. Brazil has a history of militaristic government, as many South American nations do, and as a result, its economy has not developed as far as those with a stable and democratic government. It is also ranked low in terms of being a safe place for citizens. For these reasons, Brazil is sometimes also referred to as a third-world country.
A similar situation is playing out in Saudi Arabia. Once again, the country is a regional power because of its ability to farm and trade large amounts of oil. However, the country is not developed as much as other nations and it has a generally unsafe ranking among other nations because of its government. This is rating is according to Freedom House, an organization that ranks countries based on several factors in relation to democracy. Overall, Saudi Arabia is the seventh most repressively governed country in the world, making it an unstable location on the map.
 |
Nations such as China and Russia were once part of the Second World. Today, the nations are referred to as both first- and third-world countries. China has a growing economy and a stabilizing democratic government. The country is making great progress towards becoming a first-world country, but some scholars do not consider it as such. Instead, they note that the quality of life and standards of living are generally poor, and the economy is not yet stable enough to be ranked as a first-world country. Russia faces a similar situation, with its strong and centralized government, yet inconsistent economy. The First World designation is very specific and only a select group of nations can be considered as such.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
The Three-World Model has faced criticism in recent years because its meanings no longer apply as they once did. The model was originally used to show alliances, but now it is becoming antiquated and causes unnecessary tension because of the way it labels nations.
Newer terms have arisen that more accurately and politely describe the standing of a nation's government and economy. First-world countries are now often referred to as "developed nations," meaning that they have a stable government and economy.
The term second-world is rarely seen or heard anymore because there is no longer a divide between Cold War factions. However, the reason why "third-world countries" is still a used term is because during the Cold War, third-world countries sometimes did not have a stable government to adhere to a specific political system belief. The similarities between the historical and modern definitions of a third-world country made it so that the term retained its original meaning, rather than evolving.
Third-world countries used to be those that were neutral during the Cold War, but the term became used to describe nations with unstable governments and economies. A more modern definition of these countries would be to call them developing nations.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
This lesson has described what makes a first-world country, the difference between the original and modern uses of the term, and given a list of first-world countries. After completing this lesson, students should be able to identify and discuss the following:
- First-world countries were originally those who allied themselves with the United States and NATO during the Cold War and supported capitalism and democracy. Now, the term is used to describe developed nations with stable governments and economies.
- Second-world countries were allies of the Soviet Union who supported communism. Third-world countries remained neutral during the Cold War, and are now countries that are developing nations.
- The Cold War lasted from the end of WWII to the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. It was a time of tension, but no direct conflict, between the United States and the Soviet Union over government structure.
- First-world countries may include a country that has a high Gross National Income, has a high Human Development Index rating, or has a high Press Freedom Rating. They are generally industrialized.
- The countries classified as first- and third-world today are highly subjective to who is being asked. Some countries may be considered as both because of their governments or economies being varied.
- The Three-World Model of labeling countries is becoming outdated and antiquated. The original meanings no longer apply to the system and the new definitions are considered impolite.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Additional Info
First Use of 'First World'
Have you ever heard the term 'First World country' and wondered exactly what that meant? The terms First World, Second World, and Third World first came into use in France during the Cold War Era of the early 1950s. From that Euro-centric point of view, the First World was the allied powers of western Europe and North America, and their allies. The major players in this capitalist and democratic alliance included France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Australia, and West Germany. The Second World was for the Cold War enemies of these countries: the communist/socialist countries of USSR, China, and their allies. The Third World was everything else not in the first two groups - basically all countries that remained neutral in during or after. But things have changed just a bit since then.
Definition of First World
In the more than six decades since the term First World was first used, its usage has changed from a strictly geopolitical description; now, it frequently refers to the degree of industrialization in the country.
Modern journalists using the term First World countries are typically describing the most industrialized nations. This includes all of the major actors on both sides of the Cold War: the United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, and more. Many of the countries made rich by extracting oil reserves since the end of the Cold War, like Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and others are now also considered economically developed First World countries. How do these First World countries compare? Let's take a look.
First World Countries: Politically and Industrially
You may have recognized some similarities in the above mentioned countries. Many of the countries that were originally labeled First World and Second World countries are now included in the First World industrialized group. Take a look at this chart and see if it helps clarify some of what we have been talking about.
| Country | Original Political | Modern Industrial |
|---|---|---|
| United States | First World | First World |
| Russia | Second World | First World |
| United Kingdom | First World | First World |
| China | Second World | First World |
| Australia | First World | First World |
| France | First World | First World |
There are also some examples of First or Second World countries becoming Third World countries, and of Third World countries moving up the industrialization ladder. The chart below may hold more surprises for you than the last one:
| Country | Original Political | Modern Industrial |
|---|---|---|
| Cuba | Second World | Third World |
| North Korea | Second World | Third World |
| Saudi Arabia | Third World | First World |
| Venezuela | Third World | First World |
Lesson Summary
The terms First World, Second World, and Third World were first used in 1950s France, during the Cold War era. First World originally meant a country that was on the side of the allied powers of the United States, United Kingdom, France, and other allies. However, in the many years since it was coined, the usage of this term has changed and now typically refers to countries with a high degree of industrial development. 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).
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Register to view this lesson
Are you a student or a teacher?
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a Member
Already a member? Log In
Resources created by teachers for teachers
Over 30,000 video lessons& teaching resources‐allin one place.
Video lessons
Quizzes & Worksheets
Classroom Integration
Lesson Plans
I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.
Jennifer B.
Teacher
Try it now
Back
