Sri Lanka has progressively improved in human development - UNDP report

Sri Lanka has progressively improved in human development over the years and is listed at the third place in the group of Medium Human Development Countries in the Human Development Report 2011 released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) .

The UNDP launched the 2011 Human Development Report titled " Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All" this morning in Colombo.

Sri Lanka's Human Development Index (HDI) has progressively increased up to 0.691 in 2011 compared to 0.513 in 1980. The country is ranked at the 97th position, first among the South Asian neighbors, in the index that is a composite national measure of health, education, and income for 187 countries.

The HDI of South Asia as a region increased from 0.315 in 1980 to 0.548 today, placing Sri Lanka above the regional average.

The 2011 report which focuses on the challenge of sustainable and equitable progress says bold action is needed in both fronts if the recent human development progress for most of the world's poor majority is to be sustained, for the benefit of future generations as well as for those living today.

The report identifies indoor air pollution, climate change and inadequate access to clean water and sanitation as key environmental threats to human development.

Addressing the occasion the Minister of Environment Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has said that the Sri Lankan government has given the priority for rural development in order to achieve a balanced regional development.

Sri Lanka, grouped in the Medium Human Development category of countries, ranks below Jordan and Algeria in overall ranking but ranks higher in life expectancy with 74.9 years.

The report, released earlier this month, has considered Sri Lanka's favourable social indicators of literacy and life expectancy to place the country among the top in the Medium Human Development group.

In Gender Inequality Index and related indicators, Sri Lanka ranked at 74th position overall, but at the second place behind Algeria in the Medium Human Development country category.

India, Sri Lanka's South Asian neighbor, has been ranked 134 in the list while Pakistan is at 145 and Bangladesh is at 146. Among the other SAARC nations, Nepal was listed at 157, Bhutan at 141 and Afghanistan at 172.

Norway, Australia, the Netherlands, the United States and New Zealand in order, ranked at the top five of the HDI while Chad, Mozambique, Burundi, Niger, and DR Congo, respectively were in the bottom.