A new index from the United Nations focusing on human development places South Africa in the lower half of the rankings.<\/p>\n
South Africa ranked 116th out of 188 countries assessed by the UN, placing it in the “medium human development” grouping.<\/p>\n
This is the same level as Botswana (106th) and Cambodia (143rd).<\/p>\n
The Human Development Index is an annual report by the UN which ranks countries according to their living standards across three indicators: gross income per capita, life expectancy and education.<\/p>\n
The top five countries out of 188 were unchanged from last year’s rankings, with Norway in the top spot, followed by Australia, Switzerland, Denmark and the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
The bottom five countries were African nations: Niger (188th), Central African Republic, Eritrea, Chad and Burundi.<\/p>\n
South Africa’s position of 116th is one place up\u00a0from the previous year’s report, where SA was ranked 117th.<\/p>\n
Since 2009, however, South Africa has climbed four spots on the index.<\/p>\n
According to the index, South Africa’s life expectancy at birth is 57.4 years, with aveage expected schooling at 13.6 years.<\/p>\n
Gross income per capita in the country sits at $12,122 – however, the report highlights high levels of inequality in education, income, life expectancy and across gender, which keeps the country back.<\/p>\n
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