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Countries of the First World

Index of all Countries of the World

Countries of the First World

List of Countries of the First World
The term First World originally refers to the capitalist, industrialized countries, within the Western European and United States' sphere of influence, (e.g. member states of the NATO). The term also includes other industrialized countries such as Japan and some of the former British colonies, particularly Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Whoever uses the term today in a variety of meanings, mostly tries to describe the top end of the evolution of countries. Nations with the most advanced economy, highest standard of living, the most advanced technology, the greates influence in the world.

The term could also means: industrialized nations, developed countries, rich countries or the civilized world, in contrast to the poor, under-developed, un-civilized, exploited nations of the so called Third World.

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First World - Industrialized Countries, within the Western European and United States' Sphere of Influence
NATO Member States during the Cold War

Belgium	Canada	Denmark
France	Germany	Greece
Iceland	Italy	Luxembourg
Netherlands	Norway	Portugal
Spain (since 1982)	Turkey	United Kingdom
USA

US Aligned States
Israel	Japan	Korea (South)

Former British Colonies
Australia	New Zealand

Neutral and more or less industrialized capitalist countries
Austria	Ireland	Sweden
Switzerland

Top 10: First World Countries in terms of their Gross National Income The GNI based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) per capita in int'l Dollars.
#	Country	Region	GNI per Capita
1	Luxembourg	Western Europe	66 821
2	Norway	Northern Europe	41 941
3	United States	North America	41 557
4	Ireland	Northern Europe	40 003
5	Bermuda (overseas territory of the UK)	North America	*36 000
6	Iceland	Northern Europe	35 686
7	Denmark	Northern Europe	34 718
8	San Marino	Southern Europe	*34 600
9	Canada	North America	34 444
10	Switzerland	Western Europe	33 168
Sources: IMF -- International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database, April 2005 (*) CIA The World Factbook (covers countries not mentioned by the IMF, information may refer to 2004 or earlier.) Slightly different figures you will find at The World Bank Group Full list of National Economic Accounts for Countries and Regions around the World

Top Ten: First World Countries in Terms of their Human Development The Human Development Index (HDI) is published annually by the UN. It measures the average achievements in a country in three basic dimensions of human development: A long and healthy life as measured by life expectancy at birth. Knowledge as measured by the adult literacy rate (with two-thirds weight) and the combined primary,secondary and tertiary gross enrolment ratio (with one-third weight). A decent standard of living as measured by GDP per capita* (PPP US$). Below the list of 10 countries with the highest Human Development Index (HDI)
#	Country	Life expect. at birth	Adult literacy rate	Combined gross enrolment	GDP per capita (PPP US$)	Life expect. index	Educat. index	GDP index	HDI	GDP rank minus HDI rank
1	Norway	78.9	..	98	36,600	0.90	0.99	0.99	0.956	1
2	Sweden	80.0	..	114	26,050	0.92	0.99	0.93	0.946	19
3	Australia	79.1	..	113	28,260	0.90	0.99	0.94	0.946	9
4	Canada	79.3	..	95	29,480	0.90	0.98	0.95	0.943	5
5	Netherlands	78.3	..	99	29,100	0.89	0.99	0.95	0.942	6
6	Belgium	78.7	..	111	27,570	0.90	0.99	0.94	0.942	7
7	Iceland	79.7	..	90	29,750	0.91	0.96	0.95	0.941	1
8	USA	77.0	..	92	35,750	0.87	0.97	0.98	0.939	-4
9	Japan	81.5	..	84	26,940	0.94	0.94	0.93	0.938	6
10	Ireland	76.9	..	90	36,360	0.86	0.96	0.98	0.936	-7

Source: UN Human Development Report 2004 Country List of Human Development Index (HDI)

Top 10 First World Countries in Terms of Press Freedom Reporters Without Borders is publishing annually an index of the countries of the world according to their respect for press freedom. The 10 highest-ranked countries with the most media independence are in Europe. Below the list of countries, at the top of the fourth World Press Freedom Index.
Rank	Country	Region	Score

1	Denmark	Northern Europe	0,50
-	Finland	Northern Europe	0,50
-	Iceland	Northern Europe	0,50
-	Ireland	Northern Europe	0,50
-	Netherlands	Western Europe	0,50
-	Norway	Northern Europe	0,50
-	Switzerland	Western Europe	0,50
8	Slovakia	Eastern Europe	0,75
9	Czech Republic	Eastern Europe	1,00
-	Slovenia	Southern Europe	1,00
Source: Reporters Without Borders Complete Country List of RSF Press Freedom Index 2005

More about the First, Second and Third World:

The First, Second and Third World

Countries of the Second World

Countries of the Third World

List of Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
The world's poorest countries, the real "Third World".

Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)

Rich and poor countries
Categories of development of countries in the world today.

See also:

Country Economies Classification
Compare the purchasing power of countries with low income, middle income and high income.

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Countries of the First World

First World - Industrialized Countries, within the Western European and United States' Sphere of Influence

Top 10: First World Countries in terms of their Gross National Income

Top Ten: First World Countries in Terms of their Human Development

Top 10 First World Countries in Terms of Press Freedom