The Annual Human Development Index, published by the UN, is a mark of the standard of living in a country based on various factors which include: literacy rate, annual GDP, infant mortality rate, gender equality, access to education, and many others.
This year, Iceland has edged out long-reigning Norway for the top spot. Here are some interesting statistics on the highest and lowest rankers on the list and some of the best and worst.
Some Quick Stats:
- Japanese have the longest life expectancy -- 82.3 years -- and Zambians the lowest, at 40.5.
- Per capita GDP is 45 times higher in Iceland than in Sierra Leone.
- The index ranks 175 U.N. member countries plus Hong Kong and the Palestinian territories. It does not include 17 countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia, because of inadequate data.
Top 12 Best Countries to Live (According to HDI 2007)
1. Iceland
2. Norway
3. Australia
4. Canada
5. Ireland
6. Sweden
7. Switzerland
8. Japan
9. Netherlands
10. France
11. Finland
12. United States
Worst Countries to Live (According to HDI 2007)
166. Ivory Coast
167. Burundi
168. Democratic Republic of the Congo
169. Ethiopia
170. Chad
171. Central African Republic
172. Mozambique
173. Mali
174. Niger
175. Guinea-Bissau
176. Burkina Faso
177. Sierra Leone
Complete Human Development Report
“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. We are faced now with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late…We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is deaf to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: Too late.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
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1 comments:
Maybe I should move to a country that's higher on the list... though, not Canada... Maybe Australia! :D
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