Norway is best place to live in; S'pore is at 23rd

UN index ranks several in Asia high; China up 7 spots

Data collected before the global economic crisis showed people in Norway (seen here) had the best living standards. -- PHOTO: SKINET.COM

BANGKOK: Norway has retained its status as the world's most desirable country in which to live, according to United Nations data released yesterday which ranks sub-Saharan African states afflicted by war and HIV/Aids as the least attractive places.

Data collected prior to the global economic crisis showed people in Norway, Australia and Iceland had the best living standards, while Niger, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone scored worst in terms of human development.

Several Asian countries were ranked in the 'very high human development' category. Japan, staying in 10th, was the only Asian country in the top 10. Singapore ranked 23rd, swopping places with Hong Kong at 24th. South Korea and Brunei came in at 26th and 30th respectively, retaining their previous positions.

China made the biggest strides in improving the well-being of its citizens, moving up seven places on the list to rank as the 92nd most developed country.

The United States dropped one spot to 13th.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) index was compiled using 2007 data on gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, education, and life expectancy, and showed marked differences between the developed and developing world. It was published as part of the UN's Human Development Report (HDR) 2009.

Singapore ranked highly in terms of life expectancy at birth and GDP per capita, coming in respectively at 13th and seventh place among all the nations with available data.

In 2007, a newborn could be expected to live up to 80.2 years and the probability of not surviving up to the age of 40 was 1.6per cent, the second lowest among all countries.

Singapore's 2007 GDP per capita stood at US$49,704 (S$70,143), after adjusting for purchasing power. Adult literacy was 94.4 per cent.

The UNDP, which has published the index annually since 1990, said human development had improved globally by 15 per cent since 1980, with China, Iran and Nepal the biggest climbers in the chart.

But it also noted that progress has been much more significant in education and health than on the income front.

'The persistent inequality in the distribution of world incomes should continue to be a source of concern for policy makers and international institutions,' said HDR author Jeni Klugman in the report.

The report also called on governments worldwide to look at changes to their immigration policies with a view to offering a 'new deal' to migrant workers whose skills can help spur economic recovery.

'This is not the time for anti-immigrant protectionism but for reforms which promote longer-term gains. Convincing the public of this will take courage,' said Dr Klugman.

Singapore ranked No. 10 in terms of the share of immigrants as part of total population, at 35 per cent. The emigration rate was 6.3 per cent, with 51.2 per cent of emigrants moving to another Asian country.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS

Most desirable countries to live in

1. Norway

2. Australia

3. Iceland

4. Canada

5. Ireland

6. Netherlands

7. Sweden

8. France

9. Switzerland

10. Japan

-

23. Singapore

Least desirable countries to live in

173. Guinea Bissau

174. Burundi

175. Chad

176. Democratic Republic of the Congo

177. Burkina Faso

178. Mali

179. Central African Republic

180. Sierra Leone

181. Afghanistan

182. Niger