The North-South divide is the divide which separates the rich North or the developed world, from the poor South otherwise known as the developing or third world. The phrase "rich north, poor south" is sometimes used. This line of division is not as straightforward as it sounds and splits the globe into two main parts.

The "North" in this divide is regarded as being the Northern Hemisphere, Australia and New Zealand. The countries within this area are those which are more economically developed. The "South" therefore encompasses the remainder of the Southern Hemisphere, mostly consisting of third world countries.

Regarding the global digital divide, which is often characterized as falling along the North-South divide, it is interesting to note that Internet use, and especially broadband access, is now soaring in Asia compared with other continents. Within a few years most commentators predict the Internet will be dominated by Asian users. Yet Asia would be classed as part of the "South". So the North-South divide will be become less clear-cut; many users of the internet in the supposedly rich "North" will be more disadvantaged than many users in the supposedly poor "South".

North-South divide in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom the term "North-South divide" is also used to refer to the divide between the wealthy South East of England and the less affluent industrial areas of Scotland, Wales and northern England. It is increasingly used as a term of resentment in the North, directed at politicians they consider to be perpetuating this divide (e.g. by investing heavily in developments in the South).