The Human Truth Foundation

China (People's Republic of China)

http://www.humantruth.info/china.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#china #confucianism #environmentalism #internationalism #japan #taoism

China
People's Republic of China
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index67th best
CapitalBeijing
Land Area9 327 490km21
LocationAsia
Population1.4b2
Life Expectancy78.21yrs (2017)3
GNI$17 504 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesCN, CHN, 1565
Internet Domain.cn6
CurrencyYuan Renminbi (CNY)7
Telephone+868

1. Overview

#china

For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, MAO's successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight. Since the early 1990s, China has increased its global outreach and participation in international organizations.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverAntique yet up-to-the-minute, outwardly urban but quintessentially rural, conservative yet path-breaking, space-age but old-fashioned, China is a land of mesmerising contradictions.

China is modernising at a head-spinning pace, but slick skyscrapers and Lamborghini showrooms are little more than dazzling baubles. ... After three decades of full-throttle development and socialist iconoclasm, you won´t find history at every turn, but travel selectively in China and rich seams of antiquity pop into view amid tumble-down chunks of the Great Wall, temple-topped mountains, quaint villages and water towns.

Culinary exploration is also an enticing aspect of Middle Kingdom travel: wolf down Peking duck, size up a sizzling lamb kebab in Kaifeng or gobble down Lánzhōu noodles on the Silk Road. And don´t forget about what´s cooking along China´s frontier lands - always an excellent reason to get off the beaten path.

And China is vast. Off-the-scale massive. You simply have to get outside: island-hop in Hong Kong, gaze over the epic grasslands of Inner Mongolia or squint up at the mind-blowing peaks of the Himalayas.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. China National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
4Hong Kong0.952
5Australia0.951
...
76Iran0.774
77Ukraine0.773
78Macedonia0.770
79China0.768
80Moldova0.767
81Dominican Rep.0.767
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
...
69Dominican Rep.$17 990
70Mexico$17 896
71Nauru$17 730
72China$17 504
73Thailand$17 030
74Antigua & Barbuda$16 792
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12,13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12,13
1Taiwan28.6
2Norway29.4
3Denmark31.2
4Sweden32.2
5Finland32.6
...
64S. Africa76.8
65Montenegro77.2
66Thailand77.2
67China77.5
68Maldives77.6
69Macedonia77.9
Asia Avg87.1
World Avg86.1
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. China's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

China's population is predicted to fall to 1 393 076 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 1.57. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population (2018)2
Pos.
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
4Indonesia267.7m
5Pakistan212.2m
6Brazil209.5m
7Nigeria195.9m
8Bangladesh161.4m
9Russia145.7m
10Japan127.2m
11Mexico126.2m
12Ethiopia109.2m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
39UAE78.7
40Kuwait78.7
41Antigua & Barbuda78.5
42China78.2
43Czechia77.7
44Croatia77.6
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
62Panama2.42
63Peru2.43
64Barbados1.57
65China1.57
66Serbia1.56
67Libya2.44
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)15
Pos.Lower is better
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3Chad04.7
4Burkina Faso04.7
5Sierra Leone04.8
...
127Israel22.9
128Sri Lanka23.7
129Moldova24.7
130China25.3
131Mauritius25.9
132Uruguay26.8
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)16
Pos.
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
...
190Myanmar (Burma)0.1%
191Madagascar0.1%
192Indonesia0.1%
193Cuba0.1%
194Vietnam0.1%
195China0.1%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants (2010)17
Pos.
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
...
185Qatar0.7%
186Nigeria0.6%
187Maldives0.6%
188China0.6%
189Japan0.6%
190Oman0.5%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#australia #china #equality #freedom #gender_equality #germany #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #russia #syria #tolerance #USA

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)18,19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18,19
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
4Netherlands15.8
5New Zealand17.5
...
96S. Sudan90.5
97Tunisia91.8
98Vatican City92.0
99China92.0
100Kenya92.6
101Vietnam92.8
Asia Avg99.8
World Avg87.7
q=199.

The concept of Human Rights has not been accepted by the Chinese government. Although outright draconian abuse only exists in terms of censorship and political limitations, there are many areas where human rights are more generically denied. Since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012, a "broad and sustained offensive on human rights" has ensued, according to Human Rights Watch's 2017 report20. Forced confessions and televised sham trials were used to harass and silence human rights supporters and "the government also tried to eliminate the country's few independent human rights news websites by jailing their founders"20. The government remains "hostile to women's rights activism" even though "women and girls in China continue to confront sexual abuse and harassment, employment discrimination, and domestic violence"21. China's censorship of Internet access is already one of the most draconian worldwide and these controls were made even stronger in 201720.

China does worse than average in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports22, LGBT equality23, its nominal commitment to Human Rights24 and in freethought25. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 for supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms26 and in supporting press freedom27.

"Foreign governments did little in 2017 to push back against China's worsening rights record at home and abroad"20. China and Russia both worked together to prevent and delay investigations of widespread human rights abuses in Syria by the International Criminal Court28. Australia and Germany both applied some pressure, and although the USA followed suit, their efforts were undermined by their own President Trump's applause of President Xi.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. China's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #China #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)29,30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank29,30
1Hong Kong18.3
2Maldives41.0
3Singapore42.6
4Japan51.0
5S. Korea51.3
6Sri Lanka52.9
7Bhutan55.1
8China60.4
9Brunei62.6
10Malaysia62.8
11Oman62.9
12N. Korea65.0
13Thailand65.3
Asia Avg80.1
q=50.
Health (2020)29,30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank29,30
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
6S. Korea51.3
7Sri Lanka52.9
8Bhutan55.1
9China60.4
10Norway61.0
11Brunei62.6
12Malaysia62.8
13Oman62.9
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives29. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau29.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean29, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa29.

For more, see:

Health:

China does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. China does the best for its immunizations take-up31. It does better than average in its adolescent birth rate32, its fertility rate14, its average life expectancy11 and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance33. But, there's bad news too. China does worse than average when it comes to its alcohol consumption rate34. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in its smoking rate35 (amongst the worst in Asia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years.

Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
39UAE78.7
40Kuwait78.7
41Antigua & Barbuda78.5
42China78.2
43Czechia77.7
44Croatia77.6
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption (2016)34
Pos.Lower is better
Per Capita34
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
...
104Dominican Rep.6.9
105Antigua & Barbuda7.0
106Niue7.0
107China7.2
108Paraguay7.2
109Mongolia7.4
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
62Panama2.42
63Peru2.43
64Barbados1.57
65China1.57
66Serbia1.56
67Libya2.44
Asia Avg2.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates (2014)35
Pos.Higher is worse35
182Montenegro4 125
181Belarus3 831
180Lebanon3 023
179Macedonia2 732
178Russia2 690
177Slovenia2 637
176Belgium2 353
175Luxembourg2 284
174China2 250
173Bosnia & Herzegovina2 233
172Czechia2 194
171Kazakhstan2 157
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)33
Pos.Lower is better
Rank33
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
4UK4
5Norway5
...
45Mexico45
46Malaysia46
47Czechia47
48China48
49Singapore49
50Ecuador50
Asia Avg64.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults (2016)36
Pos.Lower is better
%36
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
...
50Singapore31.8
51Gambia31.9
52Ghana32.0
53China32.3
54Mauritius32.3
55N. Korea32.4
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate (2015)32
Pos.Lower is better
Per 100032
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
4Hong Kong3.2
5Slovenia3.8
...
19Maldives6.7
20Tunisia6.8
21Austria7.1
22China7.3
23Greece7.5
24Oman8.1
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)31
Pos.Higher is better
Avg %31
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
4Niue98.8
5Mongolia98.7
6Czechia98.7
7Seychelles98.6
8S. Korea98.6
9Sri Lanka98.4
10St Lucia98.2
11Bahrain98.2
12Iran98.1
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. China's Modernity and Learning

#education #english #intelligence #it_security #maths #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.9
3S. Korea24.0
4Singapore27.9
5Israel32.2
...
12UAE56.0
13Saudi Arabia60.4
14Uzbekistan61.7
15China61.9
16Kazakhstan63.3
17Georgia65.1
18Vietnam67.1
Asia Avg79.0
q=51.
Modernity and Learning (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
...
63Mexico59.8
64Saudi Arabia60.4
65Uzbekistan61.7
66China61.9
67Kazakhstan63.3
68Monaco64.5
69Georgia65.1
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research and Development (2016)
Pos.Higher is better
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2937
2Israel4.1137
3Japan3.5837
4Finland3.1737
5Sweden3.1637
...
121Bahrain0.0438
122Colombia0.0438
123Iraq0.0339
124El Salvador0.0340
125China0.0338
126Lesotho0.0139
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education (2018)41
Pos.Higher is better41
1Luxembourg100.0%
2Estonia100.0%
3Austria100.0%
4Canada100.0%
5Finland100.0%
...
61Italy79.6%
62Hong Kong79.4%
63Chile79.3%
64China78.6%
65Belize78.6%
66Malta78.2%
Asia Avg66.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling (2021)42
Pos.Higher is better
Years42
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
...
78Moldova14.4
79Serbia14.4
80Luxembourg14.4
81China14.2
82Romania14.2
83Antigua & Barbuda14.2
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours (2017)33
Pos.Lower is better
Rank33
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
4Denmark4
5UK5
...
67India67
68Lebanon68
69Senegal69
70China70
71Burundi71
72Tunisia72
Asia Avg97.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Maths, Science & Reading (2015)43
Pos.Higher is better
Score43
1Singapore1655
2Hong Kong1598
3Japan1586
4Macau1582
5Estonia1573
6Taiwan1571
7Canada1571
8Finland1568
9S. Korea1557
10China154344
11Ireland1528
12Slovenia1528
Asia Avg1398
World Avg1389
q=70.
Religiosity (2018)45
Pos.Lower is better
%45
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
6Germany10
7UK10
8Sweden10
9Japan10
10Finland10
11Latvia11
12France11
Asia Avg55.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ (2006)46
Pos.Higher is better46
1Hong Kong108
2Singapore108
3S. Korea106
4Japan105
5Taiwan105
6China105
7Italy102
8Iceland101
9Switzerland101
10Mongolia101
11Netherlands100
12Norway100
Asia Avg90.4
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users (2016)47
Pos.Higher is better47
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
4Bermuda97%
5Andorra97%
...
91Serbia54%
92Maldives54%
93Georgia53%
94China52%
95Vietnam52%
96S. Africa52%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
Freedom On The Internet (2012)48
Pos.Lower is better48
1Estonia10
2USA12
3Germany15
4Australia18
5Hungary19
...
42Myanmar (Burma)75
43Uzbekistan77
44Syria83
45China85
46Cuba86
47Iran90
Asia Avg56.6
World Avg46.7
q=47.
IT Security (2013)49
Pos.Lower is better49
1Ireland0.11
2Luxembourg0.11
3Belize0.11
4Hong Kong0.12
5Mexico0.16
...
69Rwanda1.50
70Tanzania1.50
71Maldives1.57
72China1.59
73Angola1.61
74Sri Lanka1.67
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98
q=81.
IPv6 Uptake (2017)50
Pos.Higher is better
Ratio50
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
4USA35.0
5Greece33.5
...
56Egypt0.4
57Mexico0.4
58Bhutan0.4
59China0.3
60Iceland0.3
61Turkey0.3
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

7. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

On the Corruption Index, China scored on average 38.4 over the 2012-2016 period. Over the 10 years since then, it improved by 6.6 points.

World Giving Index (2013-2021)51
Pos.Lower is better51
1Myanmar (Burma)2.7
2New Zealand4.0
3USA4.7
4Australia4.9
5Indonesia9.0
...
154Armenia125.0
155Lithuania125.6
156Greece127.1
157China131.4
158Palestine136.2
159Yemen138.0
Asia Avg62.5
World Avg67.9
q=160.
Corruption (2022)52
Pos.Higher is better
Points52
1Denmark90.0
2Finland87.0
3New Zealand87.0
4Norway84.0
5Singapore83.0
...
62Malaysia47.0
63Armenia46.0
64Romania46.0
65China45.0
66Sao Tome & Principe45.0
67Montenegro45.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness (2018)53
Pos.Higher is better53
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
4Iceland7.5
5Switzerland7.5
...
83Dominican Rep.5.3
84Algeria5.3
85Morocco5.3
86China5.2
87Azerbaijan5.2
88Lebanon5.2
Asia Avg5.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity and Culture (2017)33
Pos.Lower is better
Rank33
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
4Switzerland4
5Sweden5
...
108Lesotho108
109Georgia109
110Kuwait110
111China111
112Swaziland112
113Argentina113
Asia Avg99.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid and Development (2017)33
Pos.Lower is better
Rank33
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
4Netherlands4
5Switzerland5
...
110Ecuador110
111Malawi111
112Laos112
113China113
114S. Africa114
115Cape Verde115
Asia Avg86.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.

8. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index (2021)54
Pos.Lower is better54
1Iceland1.10
2New Zealand1.25
3Denmark1.26
4Portugal1.27
5Slovenia1.32
...
97Tajikistan2.10
98Tunisia2.11
99Guinea-Bissau2.11
100China2.11
101Guyana2.11
102Bahrain2.12
Asia Avg2.22
World Avg2.08
q=163.
Peacekeeping and Security (2017)33
Pos.Lower is better
Rank33
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
4Egypt4
5Nigeria5
...
37Germany37
38Togo38
39Argentina39
40China40
41Canada41
42Azerbaijan42
Asia Avg76.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees and UN Treaties (2017)33
Pos.Lower is better
Rank33
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
4Sweden4
5Malta5
...
106Namibia106
107Tunisia107
108Cape Verde108
109China109
110Kazakhstan110
111Jordan111
Asia Avg92.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism (2019)55
Pos.Lower is better
Score55
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
4Equatorial Guinea0.00
5Cambodia0.00
...
106Greece4.17
107Germany4.25
108Lebanon4.40
109China4.47
110S. Africa4.51
111Israel4.53
Asia Avg3.60
World Avg2.78
q=150.

9. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 (2015)56
Pos.Higher is better
%56
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
4Kuwait+81.2
5Dominican Rep.+79.5
...
13Bhutan+34.7
14Azerbaijan+34.6
15Spain+33.2
16China+32.6
17Montenegro+32.1
18Syria+32.1
Asia Avg+07.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance (2018)57
Pos.Higher is better57
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
4Malta80.9
5Sweden80.5
...
117Zambia51.0
118Grenada50.9
119Tanzania50.8
120China50.7
121Thailand49.9
122Micronesia49.8
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency (2014)58
Pos.Higher is better58
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
4Colombia17.54
5Ireland17.54
...
95Niger05.81
96Zambia05.71
97Canada05.56
98China05.52
99Nepal05.35
100Iran05.32
Asia Avg09.14
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.Earlier is better
Signed
1China1993 Dec 29
2Guinea1993 Dec 29
3Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
4Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
5Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
6Mexico1993 Dec 29
7Armenia1993 Dec 29
8Ecuador1993 Dec 29
9Fiji1993 Dec 29
10Canada1993 Dec 29
11Monaco1993 Dec 29
12Maldives1993 Dec 29
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment (2011)59
Pos.Higher is better
%59
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
4Trinidad & Tobago74.5%
5Costa Rica74.2%
...
134Tunisia19.3%
135Czechia16.0%
136Estonia15.9%
137China15.1%
138Denmark14.9%
139Libya14.6%
Asia Avg37.9%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.

Chart of deforestation footprint of Brazil, US, China, Japan and GermanyMany rich countries. including China, are increasing their forest cover whilst they import foods and goods that result from deforestation elsewhere. Tracing supply chains is difficult and supply firms obfuscate the chain of production so it's difficult to tell what products are to blame, and, some governments are particularly reluctant to fund investigations into the deforestation footprint of imports.

Keiichiro Kanemoto and Nguyen Tien Hoang, of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature in Japan, combined data on global forest loss with that on international trade between 2001 and 2015. They calculated that rich-country demand [...] contributed to a net loss of 20,000 square kilometres of forest in the rest of the world in 2015 alone.

The Economist (2021)60

China's timber and rubber imports in particular "has helped to wipe out forests in Indochina"61. The USA should take deforestation more seriously and engage in the international efforts, as the negative effects of deforestation will affect us all, but cannot be handled well by countries working alone.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy (2019)62
Pos.Higher is worse62
184Chad40.90
183Central African Rep.40.10
182Sierra Leone39.00
181Somalia38.90
180Nigeria37.10
...
71Armenia8.70
70Barbados8.70
69Argentina8.60
68China7.90
67Macedonia7.90
66Uruguay7.90
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) (2017)63
Pos.Lower is better
%63
1Ukraine25.0
2Belarus25.4
3Slovenia25.4
4Czechia25.9
5Moldova25.9
...
87Myanmar (Burma)38.1
88Maldives38.4
89Burundi38.6
90China38.6
91Samoa38.7
92Israel38.9
Asia Avg35.2
World Avg38.1
q=152.
Multidimensional Poverty (2018)64
Pos.Lower is better
Severity64
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
4Turkmenistan.001
5Jordan.002
...
21Macedonia.010
22Guyana.014
23Dominican Rep..015
24China.016
25Brazil.01665
26Belize.017
Asia Avg.084
World Avg.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#afterlife #belief #buddhism #christianity #god #heaven #hell #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation #universalism

Religiosity (2018)45
Pos.Lower is better
%45
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
6Germany10
7UK10
8Sweden10
9Japan10
10Finland10
11Latvia11
12France11
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)66
Pos.Higher is better
%66
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
4Czechia61
5Estonia49
...
36Lithuania13
37Singapore13
38Kazakhstan12
39China12
40Uruguay12
41USA10
World Avg9.9
q=137.
Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and Chinese folk religion are the four main forms of religion in China; their beliefs and practices have intermingled and interchanged over thousands of years, and most local communities combine parts of all of them67,68,69,70,71. China's earliest dynasties continued folk practices that have existed since pre-history, with religious leaders being shamans and guides speaking on behalf of the spirit world72 and a multitude of local gods and practices, and some of those ancient practices persist today in rural areas. Despite liberalisation over the past several decades, large numbers of Chinese - two thirds - do not consider themselves religious at all73 and most new religious movements are suppressed74,75.

For more, see:

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below76:

Christian5.1%
Muslim1.8%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist18.2%
Folk Religion21.9%
Jew0.1%
Unaffiliated52.2%

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 47.2% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 3% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2%. note: officially atheist (2002 est.)77.

The Afterlife: Ipsos-NA in 2011 gathered some statistics on China78. Belief in heaven and hell is at just 12%. More people don't know what to believe (34%). Some believe that upon death, you simply cease to exist (31%). Also, 2% specifically believe in heaven but not in hell (which is nice - making them possible "universalists"). 8% believe in reincarnation.

Links: