World Bank Document

Introduction
The World Development Indicators provide infor- 1965-73 and 1973-83, or 1965-82 if data for 1983
mation on the main features of social and eco- were not available. All growth rates are in constant
nomic development. Most of the data collected by prices and were computed, unless noted otherthe
World Bank are on its developing member wise, by using the least-squares method. Because
countries. Because comparable data for developed this method takes all observations in a period into
market economies are readily available, these are account, the resulting growth rates reflect general
also included in the indicators. Data for nonmarket trends that are not unduly influenced by excepeconomies,
a few of which are members of the tional values. Table entries in italics indicate that
World Bank, are included if available in a compara- they are for years or periods other than those specble
form.
ified. All dollar figures are US dollars. The various
Every effort has been made to standardize the methods used for converting from national curdata.
However, full comparability cannot be rency figures are described, where appropriate, in
ensured and care must be taken in interpreting the the technical notes.
indicators. The statistics are drawn from sources Some of the differences between figures shown
thought to be most authoritative but many of them in this year's and last year's editions reflect not
are subject to considerable margins of error. Varia- only updating but also revisions to historical
tions in national statistical practices also reduce the series.
comparability of data which should thus be con- As in the World Development Report itself, the
strued only as indicating trends and characterizing economies included in the World Development
major differences among economies, rather than Indicators are grouped into several major categotaken
as precise quantitative indications of those ries. These groupings are analytically useful in disdifferences.
tinguishing economies at different stages of devel-
The indicators in Table 1 give a summary profile opment. Many of the economies included are
of economies. Data in the other tables fall into the further classified by dominant characteristics-to
following broad areas: national accounts, agricul- distinguish oil importers and exporters and to disture,
industry, energy, external trade, external tinguish industrial market from industrial nonmardebt,
aid flows, other external transactions, ket economies. The major groups used in the
demography, labor force, urbanization, social indi- tables are 35 low-income developing economies
cators, central government finances and income with a per capita income of less than $400 in 1983,
distribution. The table on central government 59 middle-income developing economies with a
expenditure is an expanded version of an earlier per capita income of $400 or more, 5 high-income
table, and is complemented by a table on central oil exporters, 19 industrial market economies, and
government current revenue.
8 East European nonmarket economies. Note that
The national accounts data are obtained from because of the paucity of data and differences in
member governments by Bank missions and are, the method for computing national income, as well
in some instances, adjusted to conform with inter- as difficulties of conversion, estimates of GNP per
national definitions and concepts and to ensure capita are not generally available for nonmarket
consistency. Data on external debt are reported to economies.
the Bank by member countries through the Debtor The format of this edition generally follows that
Reporting System. Other data sets are drawn from used in previous years. In each group, economies
the International Monetary Fund, the United are listed in ascending order of income per capita
Nations and specialized agencies.
except for economies for which no GNP per capita
For ease of reference, ratios and rates of growth figure can be calculated. These economies are
are shown; absolute values are reported only in a listed in italics in alphabetical order at the end of
few instances. This year's edition presents new the appropriate income groups. This order is used
periods for the ratios and rates in growth. Most in all tables. The alphabetical list in the key shows
growth rates were calculated for two periods: the reference number of each economy; italics indi-
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