what is a second world country?

Historically the terms 1st, 2nd and 3rd world were used to group countries by their economic system (capitalism/communism) and, by nature of that economic system their alignment with either NATO or the Warsaw Pact.

NATO member nations were typically 1st world, while Warsaw Pact nations were the second world. Non-aligned countries, or countries who were systemically broken in that there is little government security or economic opportunity are considered 3rd world.

Contrary to popular belief Mexico is not a 2nd world country, nor is it a 3rd world country.

The fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War along with the economic expansion of former Warsaw Pact nations assigning a label (1st, 2nd, 3rd) to countries will continue to fall out of favor. The 3rd world term will continue to live on, however as its an easy way way to describe the poorest nations.

Examples of each:

1st: US, UK, France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands

Historically 2nd world: Russia, Poland, Ukraine, China

3rd: Somalia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

The USSR was second world

Possibly Communist. main definition: Still develop, but not on par with first world countries like the US, UK, France, or Japan as far as resources, food, etc..

Mexico