UN report says human progress improving in most of the world
( 2002-07-24 10:08 ) (7 )

United Nations reported human progress in most countries in its latest ranking released Wednesday.

While the UN Human Development Program reported many countries in Eastern and Central Europe, the former Soviet Union and sub-Saharan Africa have lost ground over the past decade in terms of life expectancy, education and income per person.

The report said, more than 60 of 173 countries ranked in this year's human development index have lower income per capita today than before 1990. In 26 countries, incomes are lower than in 1980.

Norway retained the top ranking from a year ago, followed by Sweden, Canada and Belgium. Australia slipped from second to fifth, with the United States down one spot in sixth.

China has risen most, jumping 14 places. Singapore and South Korea have moved up eight places, Thailand 10, and Malaysia 12, it said.

The report ``shows substantial progress over the last decades in the level of human development in most parts of the world,'' said UNDP, which released the Human Development Report for 2002 at the Philippines' presidential palace.

``But the report calls attention to tragic exceptions in Eastern and Central Europe, the former Soviet Union and sub-Saharan Africa, where many countries actually have a lower HDI (human development index) today than they did at the start of the 1990s,'' it said.

All 24 countries at the bottom of the index are in sub-Saharan Africa, with Sierra Leone again ranked last.

Iraq was not in the index because of ``lack of information'' on the country, said Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, the report's chief author. East Timor, the world's youngest nation, also was not included.

Norway has risen six places since 1990, while Sweden and Australia both climbed nine places. The United States, Iceland and France have fallen four spots, while Japan dropped five and Switzerland six.

In East Asia, many economies have made striking progress since 1990, despite the financial crises that hit the region toward the end of the decade, the report said.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, as many as nine countries have risen five or more places since 1990, including Chile, Costa Rica and Panama.

The pain of economic transition has taken its toll in the former East bloc. The Russian Federation and Ukraine have fallen 20 places since 1990, and Moldova and Tajikistan plunged at least 30 spots. Only Hungary and Poland defied the trend, moving up eight places.

The report, UNDP said, looks beyond per capita income, human resource development and basic needs as measure of human progress. It also consider factors such as human freedom, dignity and the role of people in shaping development.

A worldwide network of leaders in academia, government and civil society contribute in the report.