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Secondary sector

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

The official flag of the United States of America.

In economics, the secondary sector is the part of the economy that focuses on making things. This includes manufacturing and construction. These activities take materials from the primary sector, such as metals and wood, and turn them into products people can use and buy.

This sector is very important because it helps economies grow. Countries that sell made goods often see their economies improve. The secondary sector creates many jobs, especially for people in engineering and other skilled trades. In places like the United States, about 20% of workers are in this sector.

Factories and machines are key parts of the secondary sector. Some industries use a lot of energy and create waste, which can affect the environment. Examples of secondary sector work include making textiles, building cars, and creating handicrafts. Turning raw materials into finished products helps countries become more prosperous and developed.

20 largest countries by industrial output (PPP-adjusted, billion USD) according to the IMF and CIA World Factbook, at peak level as of 2020:
Economy
Industrial output
(01)  China
11,261
(—)  European Union
5,729
(02)  United States
4,093
(03)  India
2,604
(04)  Japan
1,719
(05)  Indonesia
1,549
(06)  Russia
1,422
(07)  Germany
1,364
(08)  South Korea
912
(09)  Saudi Arabia
840
(10)  Mexico
835
(11)  Turkey
763
(12)  Brazil
720
(13)  United Kingdom
639
(14)  France
597
(15)  Italy
587
(16)  Iran
578
(17)  Canada
537
(18)  Poland
517
(19)  Thailand
499
(20)  Egypt
490
The twenty largest countries by industrial output (in PPP terms) at peak level as of 2020, according to the IMF and CIA World Factbook.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Secondary sector, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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