Standard of living

The 1989 study considered countries of the North ('haves') and South ('have-nots'), corresponding closely to the 'more developed' and 'less developed' regions defined by UN Population Division. The latter terminology will be used in the current study.

There continues to be a great discrepancy in wealth between more developed and less developed countries. In 2004 the world average per capita GDP (based on purchasing power parity) is US$8,200. At the top of the table is Luxembourg with US$55,000; at the bottom East Timor with US$500. The USA weighs in at US$37,800, Japan US$28,200, EU countries US$20,000 to 30,000, China US$5,000 and India US$2,900.