Bahrain human development rankings in Arab Region improve

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has moved up on the Human Development Index to rank 42nd globally in 2019, three positions better than its 45th ranking in 2018.

According to the new report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bahrain has maintained its position in the “very high human development” category of the index, based on its average income, education, and health metrics.

The Kingdom has also increased it's Gross National Income (GNI) per capita for both males and females, as well as its labour force participation rate for women.

In terms of the dynamics of that ranking across time, the report indicates how between 2014 and 2019, Bahrain has gone up six positions, making it the Arab country with the second-largest upwards leap in terms of the HDI ranking, following only Tunisia in the same period.

Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohamed bin Ibrahim Al-Mutawa stated that it is gratifying to note that the Kingdom of Bahrain continues to obtain high scores in the Human Development Index, providing free education, ensuring equal opportunities for men and women, improving health care, and raising life expectancy, all in line with the SDGs. Bahrain has scaled up its efforts to conserve its natural resources, including ensuring protected marine areas, establishment of the Sustainable Energy Authority, and setting of national goals on energy efficiency and renewable energy.