Human Potential Top-Notch in Russia
The United Nations has published its annual Human Development Report, which contains an index of human development potential for 177 countries. Iceland tops the list this year, displacing Norway, which had held that honor for the last six years. Russia dropped from 65th place to 67th, but fell into the group of countries with the most highly developed human potential for the first time, after that category (the highest of three) was expanded from 63 to 70 countries. One of the less successful showings in the index this year was that of the United States, which dropped from 8th to 12th place.
The Human Development Index has been compiled by the UN since 1970. It takes into consideration both economic (GDP per capita) and demographic factors (life expectancy, literacy level, accessibility of education).
Among the countries of the former USSR, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia surpassed Russia, ranking 43rd-45th, respectively, as did Belarus, at 64th. Compilers noted that, although Belarusians are poorer than Russians (with average annual incomes of $7918 vs. $10,845), they live longer (68.7 years vs. 65) and illiteracy is 0.2 percent lower. Russia is most closely followed in the index by Kazakhstan, which is in 73rd place.
Levada Center expert Marina Krasilnikova noted that, while Russia showed improvement in material aspects, it declined in all other aspects measured by the index. The data used in the index were gathered in 2005. The UN explains that the lengthy delay in compiling the index is due to the large amount of statistical material involved in it.
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All the Article in Russian as of Nov. 28, 2007
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