This chapter summarises some of the basic data on the industrialisation that has taken place in developing countries since 1960. The conventional grouping ‘developing countries’ is very heterogeneous, covering countries with very different population sizes, income levels, resource endowments, and political and social cultures. Most statistical compilations work with income level as a criteria for membership of this group, although a relatively low share of industry in total economic activity is often assumed to be a key characteristic of such countries.1