China (People's Republic of China)

China People's Republic of China
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	65th best
Capital	Beijing
Land Area	9 327 490km21
Location	Asia
Population	1.4b2
Life Expectancy	78.21yrs (2017)3
GNI	$17 504 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	CN, CHN, 1565
Internet Domain	.cn6
Currency	Yuan Renminbi (CNY)7
Telephone	+868

1. Overview
2. China National and Social Development
3. China's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. China's Health
6. China's Modernity and Learning
7. National Culture
8. Peace Versus Instability
9. The Natural Environment
10. Economic Inequality and Poverty
11. Religion and Beliefs
12. Links

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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

“Antique 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
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
76	Iran	0.774
77	Ukraine	0.773
78	Macedonia	0.770
79	China	0.768
80	Moldova	0.767
81	Dominican Rep.	0.767
82	Palau	0.767
83	Cuba	0.764
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
69	Dominican Rep.	$17 990
70	Mexico	$17 896
71	Nauru	$17 730
72	China	$17 504
73	Thailand	$17 030
74	Antigua & Barbuda	$16 792
75	Botswana	$16 198
76	Macedonia	$15 918
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Norway	25.2
2	Denmark	26.1
3	Taiwan	26.6
	...
62	Armenia	62.7
63	Bosnia & Herzegovina	62.7
64	Macedonia	63.0
65	China	63.4
66	Georgia	63.7
67	Seychelles	63.8
68	Malaysia	64.1
69	Montenegro	64.4
	Asia Avg	72.4
	World Avg	70.6
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.

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
4	Indonesia	267.7m
5	Pakistan	212.2m
6	Brazil	209.5m
7	Nigeria	195.9m
8	Bangladesh	161.4m
9	Russia	145.7m
10	Japan	127.2m
11	Mexico	126.2m
12	Ethiopia	109.2m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
39	UAE	78.7
40	Kuwait	78.7
41	Antigua & Barbuda	78.5
42	China	78.2
43	Czechia	77.7
44	Croatia	77.6
45	Barbados	77.6
46	USA	77.2
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best13
Pos.		201313
1	N. Korea	2.00
2	Brunei	1.99
3	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.01
	...
62	Panama	2.42
63	Peru	2.43
64	Barbados	1.57
65	China	1.57
66	Serbia	1.56
67	Libya	2.44
68	Cambodia	2.45
69	Bulgaria	1.54
	World Avg	2.81
q=180.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better14
Pos.		2016 Per 10014
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3	Chad	04.7
	...
127	Israel	22.9
128	Sri Lanka	23.7
129	Moldova	24.7
130	China	25.3
131	Mauritius	25.9
132	Uruguay	26.8
133	Cyprus	26.9
134	Chile	27.0
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.		2017 %15
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
188	N. Korea	0.2%
189	Sri Lanka	0.2%
190	Myanmar (Burma)	0.1%
191	Madagascar	0.1%
192	Indonesia	0.1%
193	Cuba	0.1%
194	Vietnam	0.1%
195	China	0.1%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants16
Pos.		2010 %16
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
185	Qatar	0.7%
186	Nigeria	0.6%
187	Maldives	0.6%
188	China	0.6%
189	Japan	0.6%
190	Oman	0.5%
191	Madagascar	0.4%
192	Montenegro	0.0%
	World Avg	11.5%
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)17
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank17
1	Sweden	9.2
2	Norway	14.7
3	Denmark	14.7
	...
96	S. Sudan	90.5
97	Tunisia	91.8
98	Vatican City	92.0
99	China	92.0
100	Kenya	92.6
101	Vietnam	92.8
	Asia Avg	99.8
	World Avg	87.7
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 report₁₈. 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"₁₈. 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"₁₉. China's censorship of Internet access is already one of the most draconian worldwide and these controls were made even stronger in 2017₁₈.

China does worse than average for commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₀, LGBT equality₂₁, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₂ and in freethought₂₃. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₄ and in supporting press freedom₂₅.

"Foreign governments did little in 2017 to push back against China's worsening rights record at home and abroad"₁₈. China and Russia both worked together to prevent and delay investigations of widespread human rights abuses in Syria by the International Criminal Court₂₆. 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:

• Human Rights and Freedom in China

5. China's Health

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

Compared to Asia (2020)27
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank27
1	Hong Kong	18.3
2	Maldives	41.0
3	Singapore	42.6
4	Japan	51.0
5	S. Korea	51.3
6	Sri Lanka	52.9
7	Bhutan	55.1
8	China	60.4
9	Brunei	62.6
10	Malaysia	62.8
11	Oman	62.9
12	N. Korea	65.0
13	Thailand	65.3
	Asia Avg	80.1
q=50.

Health (2020)27
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank27
1	Monaco	13.0
2	Hong Kong	18.3
3	Maldives	41.0
4	Singapore	42.6
5	Japan	51.0
6	S. Korea	51.3
7	Sri Lanka	52.9
8	Bhutan	55.1
9	China	60.4
10	Norway	61.0
11	Brunei	62.6
12	Malaysia	62.8
	World Avg	93.5
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 Maldives₂₈. 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 Palau₂₈.

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 Mediterranean₂₈, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa₂₈.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

China does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. China does the best in terms of its immunizations take-up₂₉. It does better than average when it comes to its adolescent birth rate₃₀, its fertility rate₁₃, its average life expectancy₁₁ and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₁. But, things still need to improve in China. China does worse than average in its alcohol consumption rate₃₂. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in terms of its smoking rate₃₃ (amongst the highest in Asia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in China improved by +10yrs in the 30 years from 1990, better than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
39	UAE	78.7
40	Kuwait	78.7
41	Antigua & Barbuda	78.5
42	China	78.2
43	Czechia	77.7
44	Croatia	77.6
45	Barbados	77.6
46	USA	77.2
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better32
Pos.		2016 Per Capita32
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
104	Dominican Rep.	6.9
105	Antigua & Barbuda	7.0
106	Niue	7.0
107	China	7.2
108	Paraguay	7.2
109	Mongolia	7.4
110	Albania	7.5
111	Burundi	7.5
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best13
Pos.		201313
1	N. Korea	2.00
2	Brunei	1.99
3	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.01
	...
62	Panama	2.42
63	Peru	2.43
64	Barbados	1.57
65	China	1.57
66	Serbia	1.56
67	Libya	2.44
68	Cambodia	2.45
69	Bulgaria	1.54
	Asia Avg	2.46
	World Avg	2.81
q=180.

Smoking Rates Lower is better33
Pos.		201433
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
171	Kazakhstan	2 157
172	Czechia	2 194
173	Bosnia & Herzegovina	2 233
174	China	2 250
175	Luxembourg	2 284
176	Belgium	2 353
177	Slovenia	2 637
178	Russia	2 690
	Asia Avg	1 035
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
45	Mexico	45
46	Malaysia	46
47	Czechia	47
48	China	48
49	Singapore	49
50	Ecuador	50
51	Israel	51
52	Slovakia	52
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better34
Pos.		2016 %34
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
50	Singapore	31.8
51	Gambia	31.9
52	Ghana	32.0
53	China	32.3
54	Mauritius	32.3
55	N. Korea	32.4
56	Thailand	32.6
57	Cameroon	33.6
	Asia Avg	44.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better30
Pos.		2015 Per 100030
1	N. Korea	0.5
2	S. Korea	1.6
3	Switzerland	2.9
	...
19	Maldives	6.7
20	Tunisia	6.8
21	Austria	7.1
22	China	7.3
23	Greece	7.5
24	Oman	8.1
25	Belgium	8.2
26	Spain	8.4
	Asia Avg	29.9
	World Avg	47.9
q=185.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better29
Pos.		2015 Avg %29
1	Hungary	99.0
2	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
4	Niue	98.8
5	Mongolia	98.7
6	Czechia	98.7
7	Seychelles	98.6
8	S. Korea	98.6
9	Sri Lanka	98.4
10	St Lucia	98.2
11	Bahrain	98.2
12	Iran	98.1
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
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)35
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank35
1	Taiwan	10.0
2	Japan	21.9
3	S. Korea	24.0
	...
12	UAE	56.0
13	Saudi Arabia	60.4
14	Uzbekistan	61.7
15	China	61.9
16	Kazakhstan	63.3
17	Georgia	65.1
18	Vietnam	67.1
19	Armenia	70.0
20	Azerbaijan	70.1
	Asia Avg	79.0
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2020)35
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank35
1	Finland	8.4
2	Taiwan	10.0
3	Switzerland	15.1
	...
63	Mexico	59.8
64	Saudi Arabia	60.4
65	Uzbekistan	61.7
66	China	61.9
67	Kazakhstan	63.3
68	Monaco	64.5
69	Georgia	65.1
70	Montenegro	66.0
	World Avg	83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2936
2	Israel	4.1136
3	Japan	3.5836
	...
119	Honduras	0.0437
120	Guatemala	0.0438
121	Bahrain	0.0439
122	Colombia	0.0439
123	Iraq	0.0340
124	El Salvador	0.0338
125	China	0.0339
126	Lesotho	0.0140
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better41
Pos.		201841
1	Luxembourg	100.0%
2	Estonia	100.0%
3	Austria	100.0%
	...
61	Italy	79.6%
62	Hong Kong	79.4%
63	Chile	79.3%
64	China	78.6%
65	Belize	78.6%
66	Malta	78.2%
67	Fiji	76.9%
68	S. Africa	76.5%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better42
Pos.		2021 Years42
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
78	Moldova	14.4
79	Serbia	14.4
80	Luxembourg	14.4
81	China	14.2
82	Romania	14.2
83	Antigua & Barbuda	14.2
84	Morocco	14.2
85	Sri Lanka	14.1
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
67	India	67
68	Lebanon	68
69	Senegal	69
70	China	70
71	Burundi	71
72	Tunisia	72
73	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	73
74	Chile	74
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better43
Pos.		2015 Score43
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
7	Canada	1571
8	Finland	1568
9	S. Korea	1557
10	China	154344
11	Ireland	1528
12	Slovenia	1528
13	Germany	1524
14	Netherlands	1524
	Asia Avg	1398
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

Religiosity Lower is better45
Pos.		2018 %45
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
4	Switzerland	9
5	Denmark	9
6	Germany	10
7	UK	10
8	Sweden	10
9	Japan	10
10	Finland	10
11	Latvia	11
12	France	11
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better46
Pos.		200646
1	Hong Kong	108
2	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
4	Japan	105
5	Taiwan	105
6	China	105
7	Italy	102
8	Iceland	101
9	Switzerland	101
10	Mongolia	101
11	Netherlands	100
12	Norway	100
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better47
Pos.		201647
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
91	Serbia	54%
92	Maldives	54%
93	Georgia	53%
94	China	52%
95	Vietnam	52%
96	S. Africa	52%
97	Dominican Rep.	52%
98	Uzbekistan	51%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better48
Pos.		201248
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
40	Vietnam	73
41	Ethiopia	75
42	Myanmar (Burma)	75
43	Uzbekistan	77
44	Syria	83
45	China	85
46	Cuba	86
47	Iran	90
	Asia Avg	56.6
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IT Security Lower is better49
Pos.		201349
1	Ireland	0.11
2	Luxembourg	0.11
3	Belize	0.11
	...
69	Rwanda	1.50
70	Tanzania	1.50
71	Maldives	1.57
72	China	1.59
73	Angola	1.61
74	Sri Lanka	1.67
75	Oman	1.72
76	Iraq	1.84
	Asia Avg	1.08
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better50
Pos.		2017 Ratio50
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
56	Egypt	0.4
57	Mexico	0.4
58	Bhutan	0.4
59	China	0.3
60	Iceland	0.3
61	Turkey	0.3
62	Uruguay	0.3
63	Moldova	0.3
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
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 Higher is better51
Pos.		2022 %51
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
50	Ghana	43.0
51	Sweden	42.0
52	Colombia	42.0
53	China	42.0
54	Ecuador	42.0
55	Bulgaria	41.0
56	Slovakia	41.0
57	Germany	41.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better52
Pos.		2022 Points52
1	Denmark	90.0
2	Finland	87.0
3	New Zealand	87.0
	...
62	Malaysia	47.0
63	Armenia	46.0
64	Romania	46.0
65	China	45.0
66	Sao Tome & Principe	45.0
67	Montenegro	45.0
68	Cuba	45.0
69	Jamaica	44.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness Higher is better53
Pos.		2018 Score53
1	Finland	7.6
2	Norway	7.6
3	Denmark	7.6
	...
83	Dominican Rep.	5.3
84	Algeria	5.3
85	Morocco	5.3
86	China	5.2
87	Azerbaijan	5.2
88	Lebanon	5.2
89	Macedonia	5.2
90	Jordan	5.2
	Asia Avg	5.29
	World Avg	5.38
q=156.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
108	Lesotho	108
109	Georgia	109
110	Kuwait	110
111	China	111
112	Swaziland	112
113	Argentina	113
114	Qatar	114
115	Afghanistan	115
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
110	Ecuador	110
111	Malawi	111
112	Laos	112
113	China	113
114	S. Africa	114
115	Cape Verde	115
116	Russia	116
117	Angola	117
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8. Peace Versus Instability

#2010s #extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better54
Pos.		2023 Score54
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
77	Jamaica	1.99
78	Bolivia	2.00
79	Nepal	2.01
80	China	2.01
81	Tunisia	2.01
82	Equatorial Guinea	2.01
83	Dominican Rep.	2.02
84	Morocco	2.02
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
37	Germany	37
38	Togo	38
39	Argentina	39
40	China	40
41	Canada	41
42	Azerbaijan	42
43	Senegal	43
44	Switzerland	44
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
106	Namibia	106
107	Tunisia	107
108	Cape Verde	108
109	China	109
110	Kazakhstan	110
111	Jordan	111
112	Libya	112
113	Belize	113
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better55
Pos.		2019 Score55
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
106	Greece	4.17
107	Germany	4.25
108	Lebanon	4.40
109	China	4.47
110	S. Africa	4.51
111	Israel	4.53
112	Iran	4.72
113	Chad	4.76
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

9. The Natural Environment

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

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 Higher is better56
Pos.		2015 %56
1	Iceland	+205.6
2	Bahrain	+144.4
3	Uruguay	+131.3
	...
13	Bhutan	+34.7
14	Azerbaijan	+34.6
15	Spain	+33.2
16	China	+32.6
17	Montenegro	+32.1
18	Syria	+32.1
19	UAE	+31.7
20	Samoa	+31.5
	Asia Avg	+07.0
	World Avg	+02.8
q=184.

Environmental Performance Higher is better57
Pos.		201857
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
117	Zambia	51.0
118	Grenada	50.9
119	Tanzania	50.8
120	China	50.7
121	Thailand	49.9
122	Micronesia	49.8
123	Libya	49.8
124	Ghana	49.7
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Higher is better58
Pos.		201458
1	Hong Kong	26.32
2	Sri Lanka	20.00
3	Panama	17.86
	...
95	Niger	05.81
96	Zambia	05.71
97	Canada	05.56
98	China	05.52
99	Nepal	05.35
100	Iran	05.32
101	Kenya	05.24
102	Kazakhstan	05.10
	Asia Avg	09.14
	World Avg	09.29
q=119.

Convention on Biological Diversity Earlier is better
Pos.		0 Signed
1	China	1993 Dec 29
2	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
3	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
4	Vanuatu	1993 Dec 29
5	Papua New Guinea	1993 Dec 29
6	Mexico	1993 Dec 29
7	Armenia	1993 Dec 29
8	Ecuador	1993 Dec 29
9	Fiji	1993 Dec 29
10	Canada	1993 Dec 29
11	Monaco	1993 Dec 29
12	Maldives	1993 Dec 29
	Asia Avg	1899 Dec 30
	World Avg	1899 Dec 30
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better59
Pos.		2011 %59
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
134	Tunisia	19.3%
135	Czechia	16.0%
136	Estonia	15.9%
137	China	15.1%
138	Denmark	14.9%
139	Libya	14.6%
140	Iceland	13.1%
141	Uzbekistan	11.3%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Many 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 Lower is better62
Pos.		201962
1	Iceland	2.40
2	Singapore	2.50
3	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
65	Uruguay	7.90
66	Thailand	7.90
67	Georgia	7.90
68	China	7.90
69	Argentina	8.60
70	Barbados	8.70
71	Armenia	8.70
72	Tunisia	9.00
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better63
Pos.		2017 %63
1	Ukraine	25.0
2	Belarus	25.4
3	Slovenia	25.4
	...
87	Myanmar (Burma)	38.1
88	Maldives	38.4
89	Burundi	38.6
90	China	38.6
91	Samoa	38.7
92	Israel	38.9
93	Tuvalu	39.1
94	Ethiopia	39.1
	Asia Avg	35.2
	World Avg	38.1
q=152.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better64
Pos.		2018 Severity64
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
21	Macedonia	.010
22	Guyana	.014
23	Dominican Rep.	.015
24	China	.016
25	Brazil	.01665
26	Belize	.017
27	Ecuador	.018
28	Jamaica	.018
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #china #confucianism #taoism

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 them_{66,67,68,69,70}. 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 world₇₁ 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 all₇₂ and most new religious movements are suppressed_73,74.

For more, see:

• "Religion in China" by Vexen Crabtree (2022).