298. l'toreover, owing to slower economic growth and a faster rate of populationr'ncrease in the poorest devel.ping countries the disparity bet*een the leasEdeveloped countries and other developing countries also widened further in terms oftheit relative per capita income levels. Thus, while per capita incomes wererising in the developing couneries as a group on average over 2 per cent a yearover the two and a balf decades, tbey rose only 1.g per cent a year in the Lowincome countries and, even rlore disturbing, teis ttran 0.5 per "ant on average inthe least developed countries. Conseguently, not only was the absolute l-evel ofper capi.ta income in the least developed countries far below that prevailing i.nother groups of countries, but it gren srower over trme. per capita incomes in theleasc developed countries, whlch were about one-barf the developing country averaqein 1960, are now less than one-third those in the group of devel.ping countries asa whole, As a resultr during the development decades the retative per caprcaincome difference - not lo mention the absolute gap measured in dollar terms -widened between the economicaLly advanced countries and developing countries and,dithin developing countries between the least developed group and all others,A/ 40 /5L9 Engli sh Page I34 289. Table 48 presents indicators relevant to an assessment of the absolute and relative positions of different groups of developing countries rdith respect Eo some key aspects of their economic and social situations in 1960 and around the beginnj.ng of the I980s, A slot, pace of economic advance also tends to obstruct efforts aimed at improving essential social services, even those, such as better health, nutrition, and'education, which are desirable in lhemselves and rrould also contribute to raising the efficiency and skil!.s of the labour force and, hence, growth performance. Although past efforts to improve nutrition and health have resulted in a rise in the average life expectancy at birth in the developing counlries over the course of the past 25 years, as indicated in table 48, therestil-l remaj.ns a wide gap belween the developing countries, particutarty the disadvantaged countries, and the rest of the world. This low life expectancy is associated with hiqh infant rnortal.ity, poor sanltatlon and inadequate health facilities characteristic of the poorest countries. Infant mortality rates in least developed couneries, for example, average vrith few exceptions well above 140 per 1,000 Live births. corresponding figures for the developing countries taken as a group average significant.Iy less than I0O, and for the developed market economy countries, less than 15. Similarly, contaminated r.rater supplies, inadeguate waste disposal systems and a lack of cllnical facilities for health care
**Analysis**
The text discusses the widening gap between developed and developing countries in terms of per capita income, life expectancy, and access to essential social services. It highlights the challenges faced by the poorest countries, including slower economic growth, faster population growth, and inadequate health facilities. The text also touches on the impact of these issues on human development and the need for improvement in areas such as nutrition, health, and education.

**Category**
Economic development, Health, Education