Growth vs. Development: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Growth refers to an increase in size or number, while development indicates a process of improvement and evolution.
Key Differences
Growth is quantitative, often measured in physical terms like height or revenue. Development involves qualitative changes, such as improvements in skills or technology.
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Growth can be a component of development, as when a business grows its assets, but development encompasses a wider range of progress, including the advancement of processes or methods. Development implies evolution towards complexity or maturity, whereas growth might simply mean getting bigger or more numerous.
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An organism's growth is measured by size or mass, and stops at maturity. Development continues through the lifespan, reflecting changes in the organism’s abilities or functions. Growth in the context of economics refers to increased output or capacity, while development refers to economic progress and higher living standards.
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Personal growth refers to increases in knowledge or skill, while personal development is about becoming more capable or advanced overall. A country might experience economic growth without much development if the wealth generated does not lead to social improvements or better quality of life for its citizens.
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Comparison Chart
Concept
Quantitative increase or change.
Qualitative improvement or evolution.
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Measurement
Often measured in physical terms.
Measured by changes in complexity or quality.
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Nature
Can be physical, biological, or numerical.
Encompasses social, emotional, and intellectual.
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In Business
Refers to increase in size or financial terms.
Implies enhancements in operations and capabilities.
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In Context to Children
Focuses on physical changes as they get older.
Includes learning, behavior, and skill development.
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Growth and Development Definitions
Growth
An increase in physical size or number.
The growth of the plant was rapid in the summer sun.
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Development
A specified state of growth or advancement.
The project is still in the early stages of development.
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Growth
Expansion or rise in economic terms.
The company reported 5% growth last quarter.
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Development
An event constituting a new stage in a changing situation.
The arrest of the leader was a major development in the political crisis.
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Growth
The process of developing or maturing physically.
Childhood is a crucial time for healthy growth.
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Development
The process of developing or being developed.
The development of the new shopping center took two years.
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Growth
Increment in biological aspects.
Bacterial growth can be affected by temperature.
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Development
The process of starting to experience or suffer from an ailment or feeling.
After exposure to the allergen, she experienced the development of symptoms.
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Growth
Advancement or increase in scope.
There has been significant growth in renewable energy use.
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Development
The process of converting land to a new purpose by constructing buildings or making use of its resources.
Urban development has expanded the city limits significantly.
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Development
The application of techniques or technology to the production of new goods or services.
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Development
The business of constructing buildings or otherwise altering land for new uses.
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Growth
Development from a lower or simpler to a higher or more complex form; evolution.
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Development
A significant event, occurrence, or change
A news story covering the latest developments in the scandal.
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Growth
An increase, as in size, number, value, or strength; extension or expansion
Population growth.
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Development
A group of dwellings built by the same contractor
Bought a condo in a new development built by the river.
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Development
The organized activity of soliciting donations or grants; fundraising.
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Growth
An abnormal mass of tissue, such as a tumor, growing in or on a living organism.
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Growth
A result of growth; a product
Concerns that are a growth of the new responsibilities.
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Development
The central section of a movement in sonata form, in which the theme is elaborated and explored.
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Growth
Expected to have or investing in businesses expected to have higher-than-average increases in revenues and returns
A growth stock.
A growth fund.
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Development
(uncountable) The process of developing; growth, directed change.
The development of this story has been slow.
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Development
The process by which a mature multicellular organism or part of an organism is produced by the addition of new cells.
The organism has reached a crucial stage in its development.
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Growth
(economics) economic growth
Growth was dampened by a softening of the global economy in 2001, but picked up in the subsequent years due to strong growth in China.
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Development
(countable) Something which has developed.
Our news team brings you the latest developments.
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Growth
An increase in psychological strength or resilience; an increased ability to overcome adversity.
Struggle, disappointment, and criticism all contribute to a person's growth.
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Development
A project consisting of one or more commercial or residential buildings.
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Development
(uncountable) The application of new ideas to practical problems (cf. research).
Our development department has produced three new adhesives this year.
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Development
The active placement of the pieces, or the process of achieving it.
White's development is good, but black's has been hampered by the pawn on e5.
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Growth
The process of growing; the gradual increase of an animal or a vegetable body; the development from a seed, germ, or root, to full size or maturity; increase in size, number, frequency, strength, etc.; augmentation; advancement; production; prevalence or influence; as, the growth of trade; the growth of power; the growth of intemperance. Idle weeds are fast in growth.
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Development
(music) The process by in which previous material is transformed and restated.
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Growth
That which has grown or is growing; anything produced; product; consequence; effect; result.
Nature multiplies her fertile growth.
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Development
(music) The second section of a piece of music in sonata form, in which the original theme is revisited in altered and varying form.
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Growth
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level;
He proposed an indicator of osseous development in children
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Growth
A progression from simpler to more complex forms;
The growth of culture
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Development
The act of developing or disclosing that which is unknown; a gradual unfolding process by which anything is developed, as a plan or method, or an image upon a photographic plate; gradual advancement or growth through a series of progressive changes; also, the result of developing, or a developed state.
A new development of imagination, taste, and poetry.
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Growth
A process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important;
The increase in unemployment
The growth of population
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Development
The series of changes which animal and vegetable organisms undergo in their passage from the embryonic state to maturity, from a lower to a higher state of organization.
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Growth
Vegetation that has grown;
A growth of trees
The only growth was some salt grass
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Development
The act or process of changing or expanding an expression into another of equivalent value or meaning.
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Growth
The gradual beginning or coming forth;
Figurines presage the emergence of sculpture in Greece
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Development
The elaboration of a theme or subject; the unfolding of a musical idea; the evolution of a whole piece or movement from a leading theme or motive.
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Development
A tract of land on which a number of buildings have been constructed; - especially used for tract on which from two to hundreds of houses have been constructed by a commercial developer{4} for sale to individuals.
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Development
Act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining;
He congratulated them on their development of a plan to meet the emergency
They funded research and development
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Development
A process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage);
The development of his ideas took many years
The evolution of Greek civilization
The slow development of her skill as a writer
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Development
A recent event that has some relevance for the present situation;
Recent developments in Iraq
What a revolting development!
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Development
The act of making some area of land or water more profitable or productive or useful;
The development of Alaskan resources
The exploitation of copper deposits
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Development
A district that has been developed to serve some purpose;
Such land is practical for small park developments
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Development
A state in which things are improving; the result of developing (as in the early part of a game of chess);
After he saw the latest development he changed his mind and became a supporter
In chess your should take care of your development before moving your queen
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Development
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level;
He proposed an indicator of osseous development in children
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Development
Processing a photosensitive material in order to make an image visible;
The development and printing of his pictures took only two hours
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
How do economists differentiate between growth and development?
Economists measure growth in GDP and development in terms of the HDI and other quality-of-life factors.
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Can a country experience economic growth without development?
Yes, a country can have economic growth without development if the income distribution remains unequal or the quality of life does not improve.
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Can growth occur without development?
Yes, it’s possible to have growth without development, such as a business increasing in size but not improving its processes.
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How does growth relate to investment?
Investment can lead to growth by providing the capital needed to expand operations.
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How does development relate to education?
Education is a key aspect of development, as it improves knowledge, skills, and human capital.
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Is development always positive?
Development is generally seen as positive but can have negative consequences if not managed sustainably.
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What is the difference between growth and development?
Growth typically refers to a quantifiable increase, while development refers to qualitative improvements.
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What is an example of growth in a business?
An example is a company increasing its revenue or market share.
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What is an example of development in a business?
An example is a company improving its product quality or operational efficiency.
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In psychology, what does growth refer to?
It can refer to increasing one’s understanding or coping mechanisms.
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In technology, what would growth imply?
It might mean more users or technological expansion.
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What does growth mean for an individual?
For an individual, growth can refer to personal gains like increased income or education level.
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In environmental terms, what does development imply?
It could imply sustainable practices and improvements in eco-efficiency.
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In environmental terms, what does growth imply?
It could imply resource depletion or population increases.
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Can plants and animals undergo development as well as growth?
Yes, they grow physically and develop through life stages.
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Are growth and development mutually exclusive?
They are not mutually exclusive; often growth accompanies development, but they can occur independently.
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In psychology, what does development refer to?
It involves progressing through emotional and psychological stages.
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What does development mean for an individual?
It refers to holistic improvement, such as enhanced well-being or expanded skill set.
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How do you measure the growth and development of a society?
Growth is measured by economic indicators, while development is measured by social, educational, and economic improvements.
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In technology, what would development imply?
It refers to advancements, updates, or innovations in technology.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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