A country is described as developing if

Analyze the question: It asks for a defining characteristic of a developing country.

Concept: Developing countries (like Nigeria and many others in Africa and South Asia) are usually identified by:

• Low income per head (low per capita income)
• High poverty and unemployment
• Heavy dependence on agriculture and primary production
• Rapid population growth
• Poor infrastructure and low living standards

Per capita income is the most common indicator used to classify countries, for example by the World Bank.

Evaluate each option:

• A. Income per head is low: Correct. This is the key feature of a developing country.
• B. High contribution of the tertiary sector to national income: Wrong. This describes a developed economy, where services dominate. Developing countries rely mostly on the primary sector (agriculture, mining).
• C. Population is decreasing: Wrong. Developing countries typically have fast-growing populations, and a declining one is more common in some developed countries.
• D. Low labour supply: Wrong. Developing countries usually have abundant labour, often with high unemployment and underemployment.

Answer: Option A.

Exam tip: When you see "developing country," think "low per capita income, primary sector dominance, high population growth." When you see "developed country," think "high income per head, strong tertiary and industrial sectors." Options that describe the opposite pattern are usually the distractors.