The term “Third World country” originated during the Cold War to describe nations that were not aligned with either the NATO bloc (First World) or the Communist bloc (Second World). Today, it is often used more loosely to refer to countries that are less economically developed and have lower living standards, often characterized by:

Low Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita High levels of poverty Limited industrialization Poor infrastructure and healthcare Low Human Development Index (HDI) scores However, the term can be considered outdated and pejorative. Modern alternatives like “developing countries” or “Global South” are preferred for their more neutral and respectful connotations.