Malaysia 66th most attractive country globally, third best in Asean...
 KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Malaysia is the third most desirable country to live in the Asean region behind Singapore and Brunei. Overall, it was ranked 66th globally out of 182 countries, according to UN data released this week. Data collected in 2007 before the global economic crisis ranked Singapore as the 23rd and Brunei the 30th most desirable country to live in. Both countries were listed as having “very high human development” together countries like Sweden, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. Norway retained its status as the world’s most desirable country to live in, according to the UN data, 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. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) index was compiled using 2007 data on GDP per capita, education, and life expectancy, and showed marked differences between the developed and developing world. Malaysia was ranked in the category of countries with “high human development” together with countries such as Romania, Costa Rica, Mexico, Cuba, Hungary, Bahrain, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. In comparison, Thailand was ranked 87th while Indonesia came in at 111th, and were only classified as having “medium human development.” According to the country report for Malaysia, life expectancy at birth in Malaysia 74.1 years, compared with 82.7 years in Japan. Malaysia has a 91.2 per cent adult literacy rate which is lower than Indonesia’s 92 per cent and Georgia’s 100per cent. Malaysia’s GDP per capita in 2007 was US$13,518 (RM46,495), compared to Botswana’s US$13,604 and Liechstenstein’s US$85,382. Singapore’s life expectancy was estimated at 80.2 years, its literacy rate was 94.4 per cent and GDP per capita was US$49,704. Malaysia was ranked 63rd in previous year’s index. |
posted by Francis Xavier at 8:07 PM
