People always refer to third world countries. What are first and second world countries?

Answer 1

Countries more advanced as far as technology and money goes.

Answer 2

Realistically speaking, you can still separate countries into three 'worlds'.

The first world is technologically advanced. Western Europe, the United States and Canada, Japan and Korea, perhaps a few wealthy Middle Eastern countries (Kuwait, e.g.) Australia and New Zealand.

The third world has no such development. There is no universal access to technology. Africa is entirely third world, most of Southeast Asia, and South and Central America is third world.

In between, there is the "second world", which, in my opinion, are future candidates for "first world" nations. They have growth economies fueled by growing technology and natural resources. China and India are two that come to mind first. Most of Eastern Europe falls into this category, as does Russia. Perhaps Argentina and Costa Rica fall into this category - they show promise. Most of the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan) would fall into this category, if only their rulers and people would stop their corruption.

Answer 3

The term "third world" was coined by economist Alfred Sauvy in an article in the French magazine L'Observateur of August 14, 1952. It was a deliberate reference to the "Third Estate" of the French Revolution. Tiers monde means third world in French. The term gained widespread popularity during the Cold War when many poorer nations adopted the category to describe themselves as neither being aligned with NATO or the USSR, but instead composing a non-aligned "third world" (in this context, the term "First World" was generally understood to mean the United States and its allies in the Cold War, which would have made the East bloc the "Second World" by default; however, the latter term was seldom actually used).

Answer 4

The term "First World" refers to countries that are capitalist democracies, that are technologically advanced, and whose citizens have a high standard of living. The United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and most of the countries of Western Europe are examples of first-world countries.

The term "Second World" is a phrase that was used to describe the Communist countries within the Soviet Union's sphere of influence.

Third World---The poorest nations of the world. Most third world nations are in debt to Western banks and governments or international lending organizations. Many depend on international aid to meet the basic needs of their population. (See Developing Countries.) This term has fallen into disfavor in recent years, replaced by terms such as Less-Developed Country (LDC), developing nations, and the Global South.

Answer 5

First countries is like the US, Canada,and most of Europe-counties that are more developed,democratic and are established etc. Second world countries are countries like China, Russia etc. they have potential, they are not a starving countries but political they don't have as much weight as the first world countries.

Answer 6

Interesting that term "second world" wasn't used much. It's very apt for the communist bloc. First second and third world referrde to levels of suckness. The third world clearly sucked, because people were starving. But the commie block sucked almost as bad, and that's something most of our "academics" and "scholars" were loathe to admit, since most of them thought communism was the cat's meow, the bees knees, balls, t*its, etc. Sorry, eggheads. Communism SUCKS.

Love Jack

Answer 7

I am sure we are a first world country and that France is a second world country.

Answer 8

It originally comes from who had the bomb: The US and then USSR had the bombs. Second world, although not used as much, where those developing the bomb. Third world referred to those with a snowballs chance in hell developing one.

It has since come to mean economic standing.

Answer 9

first world are highly industrialized. second world are modern, but still not fully integrated into the modern world but still have some fair levels of industrialization. third world are poor, and have almost no industry other than agricultural.

Answer 10

These are the ranks designating progress, education, and technological advances.