South Africa has a Human Development Index of 0.653 (based on 2004 statistics). Using a consistent methodology, South Africa’s Human Development Index using 1995 statistics is 0.741. Had South Africa remained at this level, it would have been ranked 98th out of 171 countries, instead of its current ranking of 121. (Source: Human Development Report 2006)

This week’s theme: The Human Development Report 2006