Top 10 Developed Countries in the World

Last Updated : 22 Feb, 2024

A developed country is a term that refers to those nations that already achieved a high-quality lifestyle based on their developed economy and advanced technological infrastructure. However, the term has a long description that also includes many factors like income per capita, industrialization, standard of living, technological infrastructure, political stability, freedoms enjoyed by the residents, and so on.

In this article, we are going to discuss 10 developed countries in the World by keeping these factors in mind.

List of Top 10 Developed Countries in the World

The development of a country can be decided on various factors like GDP per capita, literacy rate, daily life, political stability, and access to all essential commodities. These factors are generally combined in a package that is known as the Human Development Index (HDI). The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistical summary of major three components and related achievements of a country i.e. health, knowledge, and standard of living.

Here is the general overview of 10 developed countries in the World :

Top 10 Developed Countries in the World (As Per HDI) – Overview
Countries	Human Development Index (Value between 0 and 1)	GDP (Expected 2024)
Switzerland	0.962	$977.95 Billion
Norway	0.961	$575 Billion
Iceland	0.959	$34.15 Billion
Hong Kong	0.952	$521.14 Billion
Australia	0.951	$566.66 Billion
Denmark	0.948	$348 Billion
Sweden	0.947	$590.60 Billion
Ireland	0.945	$711.35 Billion
Germany	0.942	$4,103 Billion
Netherlands	0.941	$1,177.34 Billion

10. Netherlands – HDI 0.941

The Netherlands is a small country in Europe with over 17 million people. It is also known as the “low countries” because it is flat and 26% of total area sits below the sea level. Amsterdam is the official capital but the government of the country sits in The Hague.

The Netherlands is known for its rich culture, world class universities, and innovative people. They are famous for growing tulips and they make billions of bulbs every year more than anywhere else. According to Trading Economics, the Netherlands’ GDP is going to hit $1,019 billion by the end of 2024.

Netherlands – HDI 0.941
Location	Between Belgium and Germany, and is bordered by the North Sea to the north and west.
Total Area	41,850 km²
Region	Western Europe
Population	1.75 Crores (2021)
Official Capital	Amsterdam
Official Language	Dutch
Currency	EUR or €.
GDP	$991 Billion
GDP Per Capita, PPP	$69,577
Economy Ranking	17th

9. Germany – HDI 0.942

Germany is a country in Central Europe known for its rich culture and traditions. Germany has beautiful castles like Neuschwanstein and churches like Cologne Cathedral. There are many places for education, like language schools and learning centers.Germany is renowned for its excellent quality of education system and job markets. According to Trading Economics, Germany’s GDP is expected to reach $4,103 billion by the end of 2024.

Germany – HDI 0.942
Location	Between the Netherlands and Poland, and south of Denmark. It borders the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.
Total Area	357,592 km²
Region	Central Europe
Population	8.32 Crores (2021)
Official Capital	Berlin
Official Language	Deutsch
Currency	EUR or €.
GDP	$4.07 Trillion
GDP Per Capita, PPP	$63,150
Economy Ranking	3rd

8. Ireland – HDI 0.945

Ireland is a country located on an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, near Britain. It is part of a group of islands called the British Isles, separated from Britain by channels of water. Ireland has two parts i.e. the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is also a member of the European Union. The island itself is smaller than a continent but surrounded by water. It is known for its vast peat bogs, mountains that reach over 3,000 feet in the southwest, and so many large lakes.

Ireland – HDI 0.945
Location	Between the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of continental Europe, and west of Great Britain.
Total Area	84,421 km²
Region	Northwestern Europe
Population	5.28 Million (2021)
Official Capital	Dublin
Official Language	Irish and English
Currency	EUR or €.
GDP	50,418.26 Crores USD
GDP Per Capita, PPP	100,172.08 USD
Economy	28th

7. Sweden – HDI 0.947

Sweden is a member of the European Union. It is a big country in Europe which is also known as the Kingdom of Sweden. It is in Scandinavia and have lots of islands, lakes, forests, and mountains. It shares borders with Norway and Finland. Swedish food includes dairy, bread, berries, meats like beef, chicken, lamb, pork, eggs, and seafood. Big cities are present in Sweden are Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. Stockholm is special because it is built on many islands and has many bridges.

Sweden – HDI 0.947
Location	Scandinavian Peninsula.
Total Area	450,295 Square Kilometers
Region	Northern Europe
Population	1.04 Crores (2021)
Official Capital	Stockholm
Official Language	Swedish
Currency	Krona SEK
GDP	$586 Billion
GDP Per Capita, PPP	$64,578
Economy	25th

6. Denmark – HDI 0.948

Denmark is a country in northern Europe that is known for its many islands and flat lands. It was ruled by Queen Margrethe II and also a part of the EU and NATO. Denmark is about twice as big as Massachusetts.

People here live long lives as men living here up to 79 years and women up to 83 years. Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark. It is the home of so many royal palaces i.e. the Tivoli amusement park, and the iconic “Little Mermaid” statue.

Denmark – HDI 0.948
Location	Between the North Sea and the Baltic, and borders Germany to the south.
Total Area	42,916 km²
Region	Northern Europe
Population	58.6 Lakhs (2021)
Official Capital	Copenhagen
Official Language	Danish, Faroese, and Greenlandic
Currency	The Danish Krone
GDP	$406 Billion
GDP Per Capita, PPP	$73,400
Economy	38th

5. Australia – HDI 0.951

Australia is a big country that is present in the Southern Hemisphere. It is made up of the mainland, Tasmania, and some smaller islands. It is also the biggest country in Oceania and the smallest continent. Lots of different people from different cultures live in Australia that makes it really diverse. It has a rich history and it is the home to one of the oldest cultures in the world that’s still around today.

People in Australia are well-educated and skilled. The country has a long tradition of democracy and stable government. Most Australians live in cities. They have a big economy, ranking 14th in the world. Australia also scores high on the Human Development Index, which measures a country’s overall development. Plus, it is the home to the ninth-largest immigrant population globally.

Australia – HDI 0.951
Location	Southern and Eastern hemispheres, between the Pacific and Indian oceans, and south of Asia.
Total Area	7.688 Million km²
Region	Southern Hemisphere
Population	2.57 Crores (2021)
Official Capital	Canberra
Official Language	English
Currency	Australian Dollar
GDP	$1,718 Billion
GDP Per Capita, PPP	$64,674
Economy	14th

4. Hong Kong – HDI 0.952

Hong Kong, part of China, is a special place in the southeast corner. It is made up of islands and peninsulas, covering about 2,755 square kilometers. Around 7.2 million people live there, with its main government center in Tamar. Hong Kong is famous for its dim sum and tea spots. In 2023, it was listed as the fifth priciest city to live in. Hong Kong mostly runs its own show thanks to the “one country, two systems” idea, thought up by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s.

Netherlands – HDI 0.941
Location	The southeast coast of China, facing the South China Sea
Total Area	1,108 Square Kilometers
Region	Special administrative region in China
Population	74.1 Lakhs (2021)
Official Capital	The City of Victoria
Official Language	Chinese, English
Currency	Hong Kong Dollar
GDP	$371.35 Billion
GDP Per Capita, PPP	$60,350
Economy	$368.91 Billion

3. Iceland – HDI 0.959

Iceland is an island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, between North America and Europe. It is a republic with around 317,000 people and covers about 39,769 square miles. The official language is Icelandic, but English, Nordic languages, and German are also spoken. Iceland is famous for its beautiful landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, and lava fields. It has national parks like Vatnajökull and Snæfellsjökull, which protect huge glaciers.

The capital of Iceland is Reykjavik that have National and Saga museums. It also tells Iceland’s Viking history. This country is considered as one of the safest countries in the world. The crime rate is very low here. It is a unique country because it does not have any military forces and police do not carry any guns.

Iceland – HDI 0.959
Location	In the North Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Arctic Circle.
Total Area	103,000 km²
Region	North Atlantic Ocean
Population	3.73 Lakhs (2021)
Official Capital	Reykjavík
Official Language	Icelandic
Currency	The króna
GDP	$34.15 Billion
GDP Per Capita, PPP	$57,012
Economy	109th

2. Norway – HDI 0.961

Norway is a country in Northern Europe. It is known for its stunning mountains, icy glaciers, and beautiful fjords—long, narrow inlets surrounded by steep cliffs. It is one of the richest countries in this World. Each person have a good income and being able to buy things. People of this country love to perform different activities like fishing, hiking, and skiing, especially at places like Lillehammer.

Norway – HDI 0.961
Location	Scandinavian Peninsula
Total Area	385,199 Square Kilometers
Region	Northern Europe
Population	5,500,095
Official Capital	Oslo
Official Language	Norwegian
Currency	Norwegian Krone
GDP	$575 Billion
GDP Per Capita, PPP	$67,798
Economy	26th

1. Switzerland – HDI 0.962

Switzerland is a small country in central Europe, is similar in size to New Jersey. It is surrounded by France, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Liechtenstein. Switzerland is made up of 26 cantons and is officially called the Swiss Confederation. Bern is its administrative capital, while Lausanne serves as its judicial center.

This country is famous for its ski resorts, hiking trails, and its 49 colleges and universities, such as the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, and the University of Bern. Additionally, Switzerland is renowned for its banking and finance sectors, as well as its world-famous chocolate and watches.

Switzerland – HDI 0.962
Location	Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.
Total Area	41,285 km²
Region	Cental Europe
Population	87 Lakhs (2021)
Official Capital	Bern (de facto)
Official Language	German, French, Italian, and Romansh
Currency	The Swiss Franc
GDP	$831.52 Billion
GDP Per Capita, PPP	$73,435
Economy	20th

Human Development Index and GDP of India

In the 2022-2023 Human Development Report (HDR), India is placed at 132nd among 191 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI). India’s HDI score is 0.633, which is less than the world average of 0.732. HDI measures a country’s development by looking at its health, education, income, and living standards. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) releases the HDI each year in its Human Development Report. In 2024, India is the fifth biggest economy globally, with a GDP of US$3.75 trillion. But, experts think that by 2030, India will climb to the third spot.

People Also Read:

FAQs on 10 Developed Countries in The World

What is the HDI of developing countries?

The cutoff-points are HDI of less than 0.550 for low human development, 0.550–0.699 for medium human development, 0.700–0.799 for high human development and 0.800 or greater for very high human development.

Why is Pakistan HDI so low?

In 2020, Pakistan’s HDI had already fallen by two notches, placing it in the low human development category, due to its insufficient education, health, and income indicators. Now Pakistan ranks 161 out of 192 countries.

Why Sri Lanka HDI is high?

Sri Lanka has performed relatively well in terms of HDI since its introduction in 1990, largely due to early investments in the provision of universal access to basic education and basic healthcare.

Which country is poorest in HDI?

In total, the HDI is available for 190 countries and one territory. Global Data Lab also provides data on the HDI of Somalia, putting it at 0.361 (2019), the lowest in the world.

Why is China HDI so low?

China is still at a stage of “high consumption and low welfare” development, and HDI is lower in regions with higher consumption of natural resources.

Why India is lagging in HDI?

Increasing Income Inequalities amplify failings on other HDI indices of human development. Intergenerational income mobility is lower in countries with high-income inequality.

Suggest improvement

Top 10 Educated Countries in the World

Share your thoughts in the comments