2011 HDI: Ghana Ranks 135 Out of 187 Countries

Norway, Australia, Netherlands, United States, New Zealand and Canada lead the world while the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, Burundi, Mozambique, Chad and Liberia respectively are at the bottom of the annual rankings of national achievement in health, education and income according to the 2011 Human Development Report (HDR) released by the UNDP and to be launched in Ghana on November 17, 2011.

"While Ghana ranks 135, it has performed well in health and education outcomes over the last two decades. Human Development Index is a measure of long term progress and in line with this a review of HDI and the increase in Ghana's per capita income show why we see a good trajectory movement for Ghana into the Medium Human Development category from the Low Human Development category in 2010" says Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, the UN Resident Coordinator.

The 2011 HDR, "Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All", recognizes the significant and remarkable achievements made in human development over the past three decades. However, it projects a disturbing reversal of those trends if environmental deterioration and social inequalities continue to intensify, with the least developed countries diverging downwards from global patterns of progress by 2050.

The report also focuses on the relationship between sustainable development and equitable progress and highlights the many ways that environmental challenges have a negative impact on human development, arguing that the challenges of sustainability and equity must be addressed together.

"The key message of the Report is that continuing human development progress must be both sustainable and equitable - or it will be neither. The report shows that sustainability is inextricably linked to equity and Ghana therefore needs to undertake prudent socio-economic policies and implementations that benefit the vulnerable and poor," says Ms Sandhu-Rojon.

About the Human Development Report

The Global Human Development Report is an independent publication of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on pertinent development issues. Published since 1990, the report's wealth of empirical data and innovative approach to measuring development has had a deep impact on development thinking around the world.