Used primarily to distinguish states along benchmarks concerning human development—such as macro-economic growth, health, education, and standards of living—an "underdeveloped" state is framed as the antithesis of a "developed", modern, or industrialized state.

What do you mean by development and underdevelopment?

Underdevelopment refers to the low level of development characterized by low real per capita income, wide-spread poverty, lower level of literacy, low life expectancy and underutilisation of resources etc. ... Such countries are characterised by relative development gap in comparison to developed countries.

What is difference between development and underdevelopment?

Developing countries are countries with a less developed industrial base and a comparatively lower HDI relative to developed countries, whereas underdeveloped countries are countries having the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development, with the lowest HDI ratings.