Norway tops UN’s development list

Published September 8, 2005

VIENNA, Sept 7: Norway is the world’s most developed country and Niger the least, according to the UN report released on Wednesday. The human development index uses life expectancy, literacy and gross domestic product as its measure.

The top 20

  • 1 Norway

  • 2 Iceland

  • 3 Australia

  • 4 Luxembourg

  • 5 Canada

  • 6 Sweden

  • 7 Switzerland

  • 8 Ireland

  • 9 Belgium

  • 10 United States

  • 11 Japan

  • 12 Netherlands

  • 13 Finland

  • 14 Denmark

  • 15 United Kingdom

  • 16 France

  • 17 Austria

  • 18 Italy

  • 19 New Zealand

  • 20 Germany


The least developed

  • 158 Nigeria

  • 159 Rwanda

  • 160 Angola

  • 161 Eritrea

  • 162 Benin

  • 163 Ivory Coast

  • 164 Tanzania

  • 165 Malawi

  • 166 Zambia

  • 167 Republic of Congo

  • 168 Mozambique

  • 169 Burundi

  • 170 Ethiopia

  • 171 Central African Republic

  • 172 Guinea-Bissau

  • 173 Chad

  • 174 Mali

  • 175 Burkina Faso

  • 176 Sierra Leone

  • 177 Niger

Some other rankings were Israel (23), Singapore (25), Czech Republic (31), Argentina (34), Russia (62), Brazil (63), Romania (64), Belarus (67), Bosnia (68), Saudi Arabia (77), China (85). —AFP

Opinion

Editorial

GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...
Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...