What are the second world countries?

What Are the Second World Countries? It’s Not What You Think

What does “second world” even mean?

Okay, let’s clear something up right away—this “first world, second world, third world” thing? It didn't start as an insult or economic scale. It actually came from the Cold War. Yep, it’s that old.

• First world was the U.S., Western Europe, and their capitalist allies.

• Second world was the Soviet Union and its allies—basically communist/socialist countries.

• Third world was… everyone else, mostly countries not aligned with either bloc.

But here’s where it gets messy. Today, people use “third world” like it means “poor,” which isn’t fair or accurate. And “second world”? Honestly, most people don’t even know it existed.

I remember asking my professor once in university: “So... second world is like, in the middle, right?” He laughed and said, “In a way, yes. But it's more about political alignment than income level.” That stuck with me.

Which countries were considered second world?

The classic Cold War lineup

Here’s a list of countries that were considered part of the second world, aka Eastern Bloc or aligned with the USSR:

• Soviet Union (aka Russia and the rest of the USSR republics)

• Poland

• East Germany (back when Germany was split)

• Hungary

• Bulgaria

• Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic + Slovakia)

• Romania

• Yugoslavia (which is now like, seven different countries)

• China (yes, but kinda complicated)

• Vietnam

• Cuba

• North Korea

These were nations that either had full-blown communist governments or were heavily aligned with the USSR in politics and economy.

And what about now?

Well... here’s the thing: the Cold War ended. The world changed. So the “second world” kind of disappeared as a label. But some people still use it informally to talk about countries that are not fully developed but not underdeveloped either. Kind of a "middle ground."

Think:

• Russia

• Ukraine

• Vietnam

• Kazakhstan

• Some parts of Eastern Europe

But honestly? That usage is outdated and confusing. Even the World Bank prefers terms like low-income, middle-income, high-income now.

Why the term is outdated (but still used)

It confuses politics with economics

That’s the big issue. A “second world” country wasn’t poor—it was just politically socialist or communist. But today, when someone hears "second world," they assume it means middle income, not "former Soviet ally."

I was chatting with my friend Diego (he’s from Chile), and he said someone once called his country “second world.” He was like, “What does that even mean today?” Fair point. Chile’s not part of some old Cold War axis. It’s just... developing fast.

Some use it as a “safe” way to say developing

You’ll see people on forums or even news sites say “second world” like it’s a softer version of “developing country.” But it’s not an official category. It’s not used in UN reports or economic databases.

So... take it with a grain of salt.

Can countries move between “worlds”?

Well, yes. Kind of.

South Korea used to be considered “third world” back in the ’60s. Now? It’s a tech powerhouse. So these labels don’t really reflect current reality.

Same for Poland or Czech Republic—once part of the “second world,” now full-on members of the EU with strong economies.

So yeah, countries evolve. Fast sometimes.

Final thoughts: Don’t get stuck in outdated labels

If someone asks “What are the second world countries?”, you can tell them:

• Historically, it meant Cold War communist countries.

• Economically, it doesn’t really mean anything anymore.

• And socially? It’s a term that should probably stay in history books.

But hey, no judgment. We’re all just trying to make sense of a world that doesn't fit into neat little boxes anymore. And honestly? That’s probably a good thing.

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