Social Progress Index: access to basic education good, tolerance and inclusion insufficient
Estonia has yielded four places in the Social Progress Index, dropping from 19th in 2014 to 23rd this year. The index ranked 133 countries according to the welfare of their citizens.
Estonia was ranked 28th for meeting the basic human needs. In this dimension, it performs best on nutrition and basic medical care and has most opportunity to improve on the shelter component. In the foundations of well-being dimension, Estonia scores highest on Access to Basic Knowledge but lags on the ecosystem sustainability component. In the opportunity category, in which it achieved its highest ranking (13th), Estonia is strongest on personal rights and has the most room to improve on tolerance and inclusion.
High homicide, suicide and obesity rates, gender disparity in secondary enrollment, high number of early marriage and low number of globally ranked universities, as well as intolerance of immigrants, are seen as relative weaknesses compared to other countries of similar GDP per capita rate.
At the same time, availability of affordable housing, decreasing number of traffic deaths, high percentage of internet users, high rank in the Press Freedom Index, and lack of corruption, among others, are seen as relative strengths.
The index was topped by Norway, followed by Sweden, Switzerland (1st in 2014), Iceland, New Zealand and Canada. Finland was 8th, Latvia 33rd and Lithuania 35th.
The index is compiled by the World Economic Forum Charity and Social Investments Council.
Editor: M. Oll