UN sees life expectancy, education and income fall
Switzerland sits at the top of the index this year, while South Sudan sits at the other end of the scale.
September 8, 2022, 9:32 am

UN sees life expectancy, education and income fall

Switzerland sits at the top of the index this year with a life expectancy of 84 years, an average of 16.5 years spent in education and median salary of $66,000 - Photo. Pixabay

A new UN report says that over the past two years, nine out of 10 countries have slid backwards on the UN's Human Development Index.

Decades of progress in terms of life expectancy, education and economic prosperity have begun unravelling because of the pandemic, war in Ukraine and the climate change.

UN's Human Development Index was launched in 1990 in an effort to look beyond GDP as a measure of well-being, according to the BBC.

Switzerland sits at the top of the index this year, while South Sudan sits at the other end of the scale.

Switzerland's life expectancy reaches 84 years, with an average of 16.5 years spent in education and median salary of $66,000.

However, life expectancy in South Sudan is 55, and people spend just 5.5 years in school on average and earn $768 a year.

A South-Sudanese government soldier stands guard as a South Sudanese flag flies in the background. (File photo: AP)

Setbacks in a majority of the 191 countries included in the index, especially in life expectancy, have taken development levels back to those seen in 2016, reversing a 30-year trend.

In the US, for example, life expectancy at birth has dropped by more than two years since 2019. In other countries the decline is much higher.

German life expectancy decreased during pandemic years

Over the years since the index was introduced, many countries have faced crises and slid backwards, but the global trend consistently moved upwards.

Last year was the first time the index declined overall since calculations began and this year's results solidified that downward trend.

The impact has been uneven though. Two-thirds of rich countries rebounded last year while most others continued to decline.

Study: Life expectancy in U.S. varies among racial, ethnic groups

This year's index is based on data from 2021. "But the outlook for 2022 is grim," says Achim Steiner, one of its authors, who points out that more than 80 countries are facing problems paying off their national debt.

"Eighty countries being one step away from facing that kind of crisis is a very serious prospect," he says.

"We are seeing deep disruptions, the tail end of which will play out over a number of years."

levantnews-BBC

UK premier, German chancellor discuss 'energy challenges' UK condemns Iran for cyberattack on Albania

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.