GCSE Revision

Uneven development

Causes of uneven development

Physical causes:

  • , such as droughts, floods and earthquakes, destroy homes and crops and set development back.
  • A country, with no coast, finds trade harder and costlier.
  • Some climates bring diseases, such as malaria, and poor harvests.
  • Few to sell or use.

Economic causes:

  • Many LICs export primary products, such as crops and minerals, whose prices are low and change a lot, and import costly manufactured goods.
  • Debt: paying back loans leaves less money for schools and hospitals.

Historical causes:

  • colonial powers took raw materials and wealth from their colonies, and left them with few industries of their own.

Key terms

Consequences

Uneven development leads to the : the difference in standards of living between the richest and poorest countries.

  • Wealth: people in HICs have far higher incomes, and more choice in how they live.
  • Health: people in HICs have better health care, clean water and diets, so they live longer: life expectancy is often over 80 years in HICs, but was 54.5 in Nigeria in 2023, according to the World Bank.
  • people move from poorer countries to richer ones in search of work and safety. move for jobs; flee war or persecution.

Exam tip

Link each consequence back to a cause, with an example country.

Key terms

Exam practice

Plan your own answer first, then open the model answers to see what each level looks like.

6 marks · about 6 minutes

Explain the causes of uneven development.

Explain means: Give the reasons why something happens, developing each point with "because" or "so".

Level 1 (Basic)· 2/6 marks (band 1–2)
Some countries are poor because of natural disasters and debt. Some were colonies.

Why this level: Three causes named, but none explained. To reach Level 2: explain how each cause holds back development.

Level 2 (Clear)· 4/6 marks (band 3–4)
Natural hazards destroy homes and crops, so countries must spend money rebuilding instead of developing. Many LICs export primary products such as crops, which have low, unstable prices, so they earn little. Paying back debts leaves less money for schools and hospitals.

Why this level: Clear physical and economic causes, each explained. To reach Level 3: develop more causes, including historical causes such as colonialism, and other physical factors.

Level 3 (Detailed)· 6/6 marks (band 5–6)
Uneven development has physical, economic and historical causes. Physically, natural hazards destroy homes, crops and infrastructure, so money goes on rebuilding; landlocked countries find trade harder and more costly; and diseases such as malaria harm health, so fewer people can work. Economically, many LICs depend on exporting primary products such as crops and minerals, which have low and unstable prices, so they earn little and can't plan ahead. Paying back debts leaves less money for schools and hospitals. Historically, colonial powers took raw materials and wealth, and left former colonies with few industries of their own, so many still depend on primary products today.

Why this level: Detailed explanation of physical, economic and historical causes, each developed and linked to slower development. This is Level 3.

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