The bar charts illustrate the number of attendees in education and science sectors across developing and industrialized countries over a decade (1980–1990). Overall, industrialized countries consistently reported significantly higher figures compared to developing nations. Additionally, all indicators experienced an upward trend between 1980 and 1990.
In 1980, the average years of schooling in developing countries stood at three years, which saw a modest rise by 1990. In contrast, the years of schooling in industrialized nations increased from nine to eleven years over the same period. Regarding the number of scientists and technicians per thousand people, industrialized countries recorded just over 40 individuals in 1980, rising sharply to approximately 70 by 1990. Meanwhile, developing nations reported fewer than 20 individuals per thousand throughout the decade.
When it comes to spending on research and development, a notable disparity was observed. In industrialized countries, the budget allocated to these sectors nearly doubled from $150 billion in 1980 to over $350 billion in 1990. Conversely, in developing countries, investment in research and development halved, dropping from $50 billion to $25 billion during the same timeframe.