Classifying countries as First, Second, Third, and Fourth World was a concept that was created soon after the end of World War II in 1945 and used until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

But it didn’t always mean that. During World War I, First World was used to refer to the Allied powers, while Second World described the Axis powers, and Third World was the name assigned to remaining ...

Because many countries in the Third World were impoverished, the term came to be used to refer to the poor world. "This 1-2-3 classification is now out-of-date, insulting and confusing." ...

TV correspondents and pundits spoke it, Twitter users typed it. They said the insurrection in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday was what happens in "Third World" countries. There's a problem with that.

News about developing countries, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Cities. How Third-World Countries Build Walkable Cities Without Central Planning Jakarta, Indonesia, shows why you don't need central planners to get pedestrian-friendly urban design.

Terms like “Third World” and “developing nations” have long fallen out of fashion. It’s time we clearly define what the Global South truly entails, says this Wilson Center Global Fellow.

Channel 2's Dave Huddleston spoke with researchers and doctors who said Atlanta is the epicenter of that epidemic, comparing some neighborhoods to third world African countries.</p> ...

First-world countries have high GDP, diversified economies, and strong infrastructures. The term "first world" is outdated, shifting to "developed countries" due to simplification issues ...

Many first world countries have certain demographics that are in extreme poverty, which is more representative of developing countries; other countries with third world status are quite prosperous ...

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva is predicting that one-third of the world’s economies will slip into recession in 2023, with the biggest impacts being felt in emerging and developing ...

News about developing countries, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.