The Human Truth Foundation

Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

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

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#paganism #pakistan #saudi_arabia

Saudi Arabia
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index106th best
CapitalRiyadh
Land Area2 149 690km21
LocationAsia, The Middle East
Population33.7m2
Life Expectancy76.94yrs (2017)3
GNI$46 112 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesSA, SAU, 6825
Internet Domain.sa6
CurrencyRial (SAR)7
Telephone+9668

1. Overview

#bahrain #iraq #islam #kuwait #saudi_arabia #USA

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendants rules the country today, as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz ascended to the throne in 2005. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program begun when he was crown prince. The king instituted an interfaith dialogue initiative in 2008 to encourage religious tolerance on a global level; in 2009, he reshuffled the cabinet, which led to more moderates holding ministerial and judicial positions, and appointed the first female to the cabinet. The 2010-12 uprisings across Middle Eastern and North African countries sparked modest incidents in Saudi cities, predominantly by Shia demonstrators calling for the release of detainees and the withdrawal from Bahrain of the Gulf Cooperation Council's Peninsula Shield Force. Protests in general were met by a strong police presence, with some arrests, but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. In response to the unrest, King ABDALLAH in February and March 2011 announced a series of benefits to Saudi citizens including funds to build affordable housing, salary increases for government workers, and unemployment entitlements. To promote increased political participation, the government held elections nationwide in September 2011 for half the members of 285 municipal councils. Also in September, the king announced that women will be allowed to run for and vote in future municipal elections - first held in 2005 - and serve as full members of the advisory Consultative Council. During 2012, Shia protests increased in violence, while peaceful Sunni protests expanded. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds more than 20% of the world's proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are ongoing governmental concerns.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverThe birthplace and spiritual home of Islam, Saudi Arabia is as rich in attractions as it is in stirring symbolism. If you are not a Muslim pilgrim performing the hajj, or an expat working in the oil industry, Saudi Arabia is one of the most difficult places on earth to visit. For those travellers who do get in, rock-hewn Madain Saleh is the Arabian peninsula´s greatest archaeological treasure. Other wonders abound, from the echoes of TE Lawrence along the Hejaz Railway to the mudbrick ruins of Dir´aiyah. Jeddah, gateway to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, has an enchanting old city made of coral, while the Red Sea coast has world-class diving without the crowds. Elsewhere, this is a land of astonishing natural beauty, particularly the plunging landscapes of the Asir Mountains in the Kingdom´s southwest.Best of all, there are few places left that can be said to represent the last frontier of tourism. Whether you´re an expat or a pilgrim, Saudi Arabia is one of them.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

[In 2017] King Salman removed Mohammed bin Nayef as interior minister and crown prince, and appointed his son, Mohammed bin Salman, as the new crown prince. Mohammed bin Salman also serves as minister of defense. The succession move followed the removal of the country´s notorious prosecution service from the Interior Ministry and its transformation into an agency reporting directly to the royal court.

In addition, in July [2017], King Salman removed the domestic intelligence agency and counterterrorism powers from the Interior Ministry and merged them into the newly created Presidency of State Security, which reports directly to the royal court. In September, the king decreed that women will be allowed to drive from June 2018, ending a long-standing ban.

"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)11

2. Saudi Arabia National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)12
Pos.Higher is better
Value12
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
4Hong Kong0.952
5Australia0.951
...
34Poland0.876
35Bahrain0.875
36Lithuania0.875
37Saudi Arabia0.875
38Portugal0.866
39Latvia0.863
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)12
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $12
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
...
22Finland$49 452
23Australia$49 238
24Canada$46 808
25Saudi Arabia$46 112
26France$45 937
27UK$45 225
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
13,14
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank13,14
1Taiwan28.6
2Norway29.4
3Denmark31.2
4Sweden32.2
5Finland32.6
...
103Nicaragua90.8
104Tajikistan90.8
105Nepal90.9
106Saudi Arabia91.4
107Bahrain91.5
108Andorra91.6
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. Saudi Arabia's Demographics and Migration

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

Population:

Saudi Arabia's population is predicted to rise to 38.48 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 2.67. 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
...
38Afghanistan37.2m
39Canada37.1m
40Morocco36.0m
41Saudi Arabia33.7m
42Uzbekistan32.5m
43Peru32.0m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy (2021)12
Pos.Higher is better
Years12
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
46USA77.2
47Estonia77.1
48Costa Rica77.0
49Saudi Arabia76.9
50Albania76.5
51Poland76.5
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate (2013)15
Pos.2.0 is best15
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
108Austria1.35
109Egypt2.65
110Singapore1.35
111Saudi Arabia2.67
112Portugal1.31
113Belize2.70
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)16
Pos.Lower is better
Per 10016
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3Chad04.7
4Burkina Faso04.7
5Sierra Leone04.8
...
63Equatorial Guinea09.4
64Kiribati09.5
65Guatemala09.5
66Saudi Arabia09.5
67Haiti09.6
68Vanuatu09.9
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)17
Pos.
%17
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
...
9Luxembourg45.3%
10Oman44.7%
11Hong Kong39.1%
12Saudi Arabia37.0%
13Jordan33.3%
14Nauru32.7%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants (2010)18
Pos.
%18
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
...
181Ethiopia0.7%
182Tanzania0.7%
183Brazil0.7%
184Saudi Arabia0.7%
185Qatar0.7%
186Nigeria0.6%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #saudi_arabia #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)19,20
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19,20
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
4Netherlands15.8
5New Zealand17.5
...
150Ethiopia116.9
151Guinea-Bissau117.3
152Gambia117.4
153Saudi Arabia117.6
154Liberia118.0
155Qatar119.3
Asia Avg99.8
World Avg87.7
q=199.

Saudi Arabia is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Saudi Arabia does worse than average when it comes to its nominal commitment to Human Rights21 and in speed of uptake of HR treaties22. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice23, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports24 (one of the worst in Asia), supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms25, supporting press freedom26, freethought27 (amongst the highest in Asia) and in LGBT equality28 (amongst the worst in Asia). There is no freedom of religion or belief in Saudi Arabia29,30. Saudi Arabia's form of Wahhabi Islam makes the country fundamentally opposed to basic Human Rights and human rights campaigners are persecuted and imprisoned11. The legal and social system systematically objectifies and subjugates women, although from 2017 there have been signs that things may get a little better, in some areas due to actions of King Salman, such as decreeing that from 2018 women can drive cars.11; but years later, any meaningful change beyond that has not transpired31.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Saudi Arabia's Health

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

Compared to Asia (2020)32,33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank32,33
1Hong Kong18.3
2Maldives41.0
3Singapore42.6
4Japan51.0
5S. Korea51.3
...
14Bangladesh66.8
15Kuwait67.1
16Uzbekistan68.4
17Saudi Arabia69.3
18Qatar70.6
19Iran75.5
20UAE75.8
Asia Avg80.1
q=50.
Health (2020)32,33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank32,33
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
...
20Kuwait67.1
21Italy67.5
22Uzbekistan68.4
23Saudi Arabia69.3
24Spain69.6
25Qatar70.6
26Portugal72.3
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 Maldives32. 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 Palau32.

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 Mediterranean32, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa32.

For more, see:

Health:

Public health in Saudi Arabia is very good. Saudi Arabia comes in the best 20 for its alcohol consumption rate34, its immunizations take-up35 and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance36 (amongst the best in Asia). It does better than average in terms of its adolescent birth rate37 and in its average life expectancy12. But, things still need to improve in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia does worse than average when it comes to its fertility rate15 and in its smoking rate38. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years.

Life Expectancy (2021)12
Pos.Higher is better
Years12
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
46USA77.2
47Estonia77.1
48Costa Rica77.0
49Saudi Arabia76.9
50Albania76.5
51Poland76.5
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
6Yemen0.1
7Afghanistan0.2
8Saudi Arabia0.2
9Syria0.3
10Pakistan0.3
11Kiribati0.4
12Iraq0.4
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate (2013)15
Pos.2.0 is best15
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
108Austria1.35
109Egypt2.65
110Singapore1.35
111Saudi Arabia2.67
112Portugal1.31
113Belize2.70
Asia Avg2.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates (2014)38
Pos.Higher is worse38
182Montenegro4 125
181Belarus3 831
180Lebanon3 023
179Macedonia2 732
178Russia2 690
...
149Italy1 443
148Poland1 396
147Netherlands1 396
146Saudi Arabia1 395
145Cuba1 392
144Georgia1 378
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)36
Pos.Lower is better
Rank36
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
4UK4
5Norway5
...
12Finland12
13Australia13
14UAE14
15Saudi Arabia15
16Belgium16
17New Zealand17
Asia Avg64.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults (2016)39
Pos.Lower is better
%39
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
...
176Lebanon67.9
177USA67.9
178Jordan69.6
179Saudi Arabia69.7
180Qatar71.7
181Kuwait73.4
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate (2015)37
Pos.Lower is better
Per 100037
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
4Hong Kong3.2
5Slovenia3.8
...
25Belgium8.2
26Spain8.4
27Bosnia & Herzegovina8.6
28Saudi Arabia8.8
29France8.9
30Croatia9.5
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)35
Pos.Higher is better
Avg %35
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
4Niue98.8
5Mongolia98.7
...
11Bahrain98.2
12Iran98.1
13Finland98.1
14Saudi Arabia98.0
15Luxembourg98.0
16Oman98.0
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Saudi Arabia's Modernity and Learning

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

Compared to Asia (2020)20
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank20
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.9
3S. Korea24.0
4Singapore27.9
5Israel32.2
...
10Macau50.8
11Cyprus54.0
12UAE56.0
13Saudi Arabia60.4
14Uzbekistan61.7
15China61.9
16Kazakhstan63.3
Asia Avg79.0
q=51.
Modernity and Learning (2020)20
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank20
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
...
61Bosnia & Herzegovina58.1
62Palau59.3
63Mexico59.8
64Saudi Arabia60.4
65Uzbekistan61.7
66China61.9
67Kazakhstan63.3
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research and Development (2016)
Pos.Higher is better
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2940
2Israel4.1140
3Japan3.5840
4Finland3.1740
5Sweden3.1640
...
111Paraguay0.0941
112Congo, DR0.0842
113Indonesia0.0843
114Saudi Arabia0.0742
115Algeria0.0744
116Cape Verde0.0745
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education (2018)46
Pos.Higher is better46
1Luxembourg100.0%
2Estonia100.0%
3Austria100.0%
4Canada100.0%
5Finland100.0%
...
70Samoa74.5%
71Trinidad & Tobago73.4%
72Philippines73.2%
73Saudi Arabia72.8%
74Andorra72.3%
75Panama72.2%
Asia Avg66.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling (2021)47
Pos.Higher is better
Years47
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
...
32Italy16.2
33Czechia16.2
34Latvia16.2
35Saudi Arabia16.1
36Israel16.1
37Tonga16.0
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours (2017)36
Pos.Lower is better
Rank36
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
4Denmark4
5UK5
...
78Colombia78
79Liberia79
80Kyrgyzstan80
81Saudi Arabia81
82Uganda82
83Mauritius83
Asia Avg97.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Religiosity (2018)48
Pos.Lower is better
%48
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
6Germany10
7UK10
8Sweden10
9Japan10
10Finland10
11Latvia11
12France11
Asia Avg55.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ (2006)49
Pos.Higher is better49
1Hong Kong108
2Singapore108
3S. Korea106
4Japan105
5Taiwan105
...
83Panama84
84Paraguay84
85Morocco84
86Saudi Arabia84
87Algeria83
88Libya83
Asia Avg90.4
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Saudi Arabia is as infamous as Pakistan for its deadly serious approach to blasphemy, against a backdrop of general religious intolerance and barbarism. For example in 2002 it was reported that Saudi Arabia's government began denying access to websites containing general religious content on Christianity, Islam, Paganism, Judaism and Hinduism50. This, like other moves in the region, is designed to keep Muslim populations' access to information limited, so that they will remain steadfast in the "correct" form of Islam as judged by the authorities.

"Blasphemy and Censorship: In Christianity and Islam: 4.1. Islam: Blasphemy and Censorship"
Vexen Crabtree
(2012)

Internet Users (2016)51
Pos.Higher is better51
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
4Bermuda97%
5Andorra97%
...
68Uruguay65%
69Antigua & Barbuda65%
70Greece65%
71Saudi Arabia65%
72French Polynesia64%
73Albania63%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
Freedom On The Internet (2012)52
Pos.Lower is better52
1Estonia10
2USA12
3Germany15
4Australia18
5Hungary19
...
36Pakistan63
37Belarus69
38Bahrain71
39Saudi Arabia71
40Vietnam73
41Ethiopia75
Asia Avg56.6
World Avg46.7
q=47.
IT Security (2013)53
Pos.Lower is better53
1Ireland0.11
2Luxembourg0.11
3Belize0.11
4Hong Kong0.12
5Mexico0.16
...
38Laos0.86
39Spain0.88
40Kuwait0.93
41Saudi Arabia0.93
42Malaysia0.96
43Canada0.96
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98
q=81.
IPv6 Uptake (2017)54
Pos.Higher is better
Ratio54
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
4USA35.0
5Greece33.5
...
27Austria7.5
28Hungary7.4
29Guatemala6.9
30Saudi Arabia6.8
31Vietnam5.9
32Slovenia5.4
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

7. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

World Giving Index (2013-2021)55
Pos.Lower is better55
1Myanmar (Burma)2.7
2New Zealand4.0
3USA4.7
4Australia4.9
5Indonesia9.0
...
54Malawi45.7
55Ghana45.9
56Chile47.1
57Saudi Arabia48.6
58Costa Rica49.0
59Nepal49.1
Asia Avg62.5
World Avg67.9
q=160.
Corruption (2022)56
Pos.Higher is better
Points56
1Denmark90.0
2Finland87.0
3New Zealand87.0
4Norway84.0
5Singapore83.0
...
53Greece52.0
54Rwanda51.0
55Malta51.0
56Saudi Arabia51.0
57Croatia50.0
58Mauritius50.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness (2018)57
Pos.Higher is better57
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
4Iceland7.5
5Switzerland7.5
...
30Guatemala6.4
31Uruguay6.4
32Qatar6.4
33Saudi Arabia6.4
34Singapore6.3
35Malaysia6.3
Asia Avg5.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity and Culture (2017)36
Pos.Lower is better
Rank36
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
4Switzerland4
5Sweden5
...
133Timor-Leste (E. Timor)133
134Mali134
135Chad135
136Saudi Arabia136
137Congo, (Brazzaville)137
138Algeria138
Asia Avg99.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid and Development (2017)36
Pos.Lower is better
Rank36
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
4Netherlands4
5Switzerland5
...
82Costa Rica82
83Kuwait83
84Belarus84
85Saudi Arabia85
86Azerbaijan86
87Uganda87
Asia Avg86.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.

8. Peace Versus Instability

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

Global Peace Index (2021)58
Pos.Lower is better58
1Iceland1.10
2New Zealand1.25
3Denmark1.26
4Portugal1.27
5Slovenia1.32
...
122USA2.34
123S. Africa2.34
124Honduras2.37
125Saudi Arabia2.38
126Egypt2.40
127Philippines2.42
Asia Avg2.22
World Avg2.08
q=163.
Peacekeeping and Security (2017)36
Pos.Lower is better
Rank36
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
4Egypt4
5Nigeria5
...
138Cape Verde138
139St Lucia139
140Kuwait140
141Saudi Arabia141
142St Vincent & Grenadines142
143Belize143
Asia Avg76.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees and UN Treaties (2017)36
Pos.Lower is better
Rank36
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
4Sweden4
5Malta5
...
114Morocco114
115Iraq115
116Dominica116
117Saudi Arabia117
118Lesotho118
119Oman119
Asia Avg92.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism (2019)59
Pos.Lower is better
Score59
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
4Equatorial Guinea0.00
5Cambodia0.00
...
118Burundi5.10
119Palestine5.18
120Bangladesh5.21
121Saudi Arabia5.24
122Ethiopia5.35
123UK5.41
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)60
Pos.Higher is better
%60
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
4Kuwait+81.2
5Dominican Rep.+79.5
...
91Kiribati00.0
92Andorra00.0
93Malta00.0
94Saudi Arabia00.0
95Grenada00.0
96Oman00.0
Asia Avg+07.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance (2018)61
Pos.Higher is better61
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
4Malta80.9
5Sweden80.5
...
83Mongolia57.5
84Serbia57.5
85Chile57.5
86Saudi Arabia57.5
87Ecuador57.4
88Algeria57.2
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency (2014)62
Pos.Higher is better62
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
4Colombia17.54
5Ireland17.54
...
82Nigeria07.30
83Georgia07.25
84Vietnam07.14
85Saudi Arabia07.04
86Honduras06.80
87Bulgaria06.54
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
...
179Liberia2001 Feb 06
180Malta2001 Mar 29
181Libya2001 Oct 10
182Saudi Arabia2002 Jan 01
183Serbia2002 May 30
184Kuwait2002 Oct 31
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment (2011)63
Pos.Higher is better
%63
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
4Trinidad & Tobago74.5%
5Costa Rica74.2%
...
99Ireland27.9%
100Israel27.6%
101Palestine27.5%
102Saudi Arabia27.2%
103Belgium26.9%
104Syria26.6%
Asia Avg37.9%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy (2019)64
Pos.Higher is worse64
184Chad40.90
183Central African Rep.40.10
182Sierra Leone39.00
181Somalia38.90
180Nigeria37.10
...
56Sri Lanka7.00
55Bahamas6.80
54Oman6.70
53Saudi Arabia6.40
52Romania6.30
51USA6.30
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#atheism #belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #humanism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #saudi_arabia #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)48
Pos.Lower is better
%48
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
6Germany10
7UK10
8Sweden10
9Japan10
10Finland10
11Latvia11
12France11
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)65
Pos.Higher is better
%65
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
4Czechia61
5Estonia49
...
120Ivory Coast0
121Pakistan0
122Niger0
123Saudi Arabia0
124Rwanda0
125Cameroon0
World Avg9.9
q=137.

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 below66:

Christian4.4%
Muslim93%
Hindu1.1%
Buddhist0.3%
Folk Religion0.3%
Jew0.1%
Unaffiliated0.7%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Muslim (official) 100%67.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Saudi Arabia's form of Wahhabi Islam (a kind of Sunni Islam) makes the country fundamentally opposed to Human Rights. Sociologists Grim & Finke place Saudi Arabia into the worst categories of religious freedom and persecution, along with just 13 other countries. In 1948 Saudi Arabia was one of just 8 countries that refused to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, disagreeing that people had the right to choose their religion68. Non-religious folk such as Humanists are in an impossible situation, and prosecutions can be made for 'promoting atheism' if they don't conceal themselves31; other religions and Muslim minorities such as Twelver Shia and Ismailis are also persecuted11.

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