Social Progress Index
The world is now at risk of being adversely led by some countries that have mighty military power but poor social merit.
But those countries, such as the US, China, and Russia, are not necessarily advanced in terms of social progress though they have a lot of wealthy people who control their domestic politics.
For example, China ranked the 90th is behaving like a leader in Asia while the degree of its social progress is worse than Mongolia. China should develop its society rather than intimidating other countries around the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Russia at the 80th is intimidating Ukraine evaluated as the 62nd. Russia should improve its society rather than trying to invade Ukraine.
The Social Progress Index measures the extent to which countries provide for the social and environmental needs of their citizens. Fifty-two indicators in the areas of basic human needs, foundations of wellbeing, and opportunity show the relative performance of nations. The index is published by the nonprofit Social Progress Imperative, and is based on the writings of Amartya Sen, Douglass North, and Joseph Stiglitz.
Countries by Social Progress Index - Ranking
New Zealand 1
Switzerland 2
Iceland 3
Netherlands 4
Norway 5
Sweden 6
Canada 7
Finland 8
Denmark 9
Australia 10
Austria 11
Germany 12
United Kingdom 13
Japan 14
Ireland 15
United States 16
Belgium 17
...
France 20
...
Poland 27
South Korea 28
Italy 29
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Greece 35
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Israel 39
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Malaysia 45
Brazil 46
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Mexico 54
Peru 55
Philippines 56
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Thailand 59
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Ukraine 62
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Turkey 64
Saudi Arabia 65
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South Africa 69
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Russia 80
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Egypt 84
Sri Lanka 85
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Indonesia 88
Mongolia 89
China 90
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Iran 94
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Bangladesh 99
Cambodia 100
Nepal 101
India 102
...
Rwanda 105
...
Iraq 118
...
Pakistan 124
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Progress_IndexIt might be also shocking to see that Israel (39) and Saudi Arabia (65) are placed lower than Greece (35) that triggered the euro crisis. One the worst Christina countries is better than the leader of Islamic nations and the sole Judaist nation.
The World Cup Soccer Games do not seem to improve much society of South Africa (69) and Brazil (46) as they are judged lower than Malaysia (45) that has triggered a mysterious air incident very recently.
And as is seen in most of this kind of statistics, small European countries around major ones, such as Germany and France, are ranked higher. They are protected by NATO; they don't have to spend much in independent national security and energy development, while they ca easily have access to advanced industrial and social/cultural infrastructures of other members of the EU.
But it is interesting that New Zealand has the highest score. This Anglo-Saxon-based nation in the South Hemisphere has no enemy countries that are situated close and threatening with military superiority. But how much can New Zealand contribute to development of the world?
What is more important is Contribution to Global Social Progress than social progress of its own for any country.
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Mat 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
Mat 4:14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Mat 4:15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
Mat 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.