There are several useful ways to compare countries, including population size, GDP and GDP per capita, trade balance, Human Development Index, and the Demographic Transition Model. GDP is one of the primary indicators used to measure a country's economy and represents the total monetary value of all goods and services produced over a period of time. The Human Development Index, calculated by the UN, provides a more comprehensive view by also considering factors like life expectancy, education levels, and GDP per capita. The Demographic Transition Model outlines four stages of population growth and decline based on birth and death rates.