Recent research conducted by the UN shows that China ranks 87th among 162 countries according to the Human Development Index (HDI), a composite measure of a country's development that takes into account life-expectancy, educational enrolment, adult literacy and per capita income.
According to the Human Development Report 2001, commissioned by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and released in Beijing Wednesday, China's Human Development Index value in 1999 was 0.718, slightly higher than that of the global average of 0.716.
The HDI 2001 reflects conditions recorded in 1999.
Norway now ranks first in the world and Australia second. Both countries moved narrowly ahead of Canada, the leader for the previous six years, after making improvements in life expectancy and educational enrolment.
The United States dropped from third to sixth place.
The UNDP has hired an independent team of experts to explore major issues of global concern and publish them in the Human Development Report every year since 1990.
The report looks beyond per capita income as a measure of human progress, using overall well-being to judge the level of a country's development.
The UNDP report says in most countries the HDI has been on the rise over the past 25 years, but in 20 countries in Africa and Eastern Europe it has been falling.
In China, the index has rising sharply, reflecting tremendous economic and social growth in recent years.
Last year, China ranked 99th among 174 countries. In 1995, it was 106th.
The report employs the word "impressive'' to describe China's average per capita income growth rate.
The report also shows China as being on track to achieve a set of goals agreed upon by world leaders at the United Nations Millennium Summit held last September.
Among these goals are a two-thirds reduction in the deaths of people under five years old by 2015 and substantial improvements in education.
"China has done quite well in meeting these goals,'' said Macleod Nyirongo, senior deputy resident representative of the UNDP.
Nyirongo said in terms of school enrolment, China is already ahead of its target while efforts to create gender equality in the schools are 70 percent of the way there.
The State Family Planning Commission will enhance research on contraceptive technology that may help improve people's sex lives and prevent unwanted pregnancies.
(China Daily 07/12/2001)
