5 Aug 2003

UNDP says human development rankings of Pacific countries drops

4:21 am on 5 August 2003

A United Nations report shows that Fiji's human development ranking has declined by nine places over the last 12 months.

The UN Human Development Report for this year placed Fiji at 81 out 175 countries.

This compares with its position at 72 last year.

The ranking is based on each country's ability to provide a long and healthy life, literacy and a decent standard of living as measured by the gross domestic product per person.

While Fiji ranks 81st, the report places Solomon Islands at 123, Vanuatu at 128 and Papua New Guinea at 132.

The UN report says Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia are among 31 countries around the world where urgent action is need to meet basic goals in health education, gender equality and the environment.

The majority of the remainder are in sub Saharan Africa and in Central Asia