China (People's Republic of China)

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

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

China People's Republic of China
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	69th 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

#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
80=	Palau	0.767
80=	Dominican Rep.	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	Denmark	28.1
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.0
	...
66	Moldova	80.4
67	Ukraine	80.6
68	Colombia	80.9
69	China	81.1
70	Trinidad & Tobago	81.5
71	Ecuador	81.6
72	Turkey	81.7
73	Vietnam	81.9
	Asia Avg	92.4
	World Avg	89.4
q=200.

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 #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

China's population is predicted to fall to 1 393 076 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 1.18. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - 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 (two new children for each set of parents who die), 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, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
137	Jordan	2.79
138	Kyrgyzstan	2.80
139	Aruba	1.18
140	China	1.18
141	Algeria	2.83
142	Spain	1.16
143	Malta	1.15
144	Egypt	2.88
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₆
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₆
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.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₇
Pos.		2017 %₁₇
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
188	N. Korea	0.2%
189	Sri Lanka	0.2%
190	Myanmar	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.

Emigrants₁₈
Pos.		2010 %₁₈
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

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

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
138	Sao Tome & Principe	111.8
139	Tanzania	112.4
140	Laos	113.3
141	China	113.4
142	Vatican City	113.6
143	Kenya	114.0
	Asia Avg	109.13
	World Avg	89.80
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 for commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₂, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₃, LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₄, its average Freedom in the World rating and in freethought₂₅. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₆ and in supporting press freedom₂₇ (amongst the worst in Asia).

"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:

Human Rights and Freedom in China

5. China's Health

#health

Compared to Asia (2025)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	Japan	40.8
2	Singapore	43.3
3	S. Korea	53.7
	...
7	Hong Kong	61.0
8	Cyprus	64.6
9	Israel	65.2
10	China	65.8
11	N. Korea	69.7
12	Kuwait	69.9
13	Thailand	70.4
14	Bahrain	71.0
15	UAE	75.9
	Asia Avg	90.68
q=50.

Health (2025)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
30	Cyprus	64.6
31	Cuba	64.7
32	Israel	65.2
33	China	65.8
34	New Zealand	66.8
35	Czechia	67.0
36	Greece	67.2
37	New Caledonia	68.1
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₀. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₀.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on 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, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₀, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₀.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #china #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #suicide #vaccines

China does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. China does the best for delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₁. It does better than average when it comes to delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₂, the prevalence of overweight adults₃₃, its average life expectancy₁₁, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₄, its adolescent birth rate₃₅ and in childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₆. China does not succeed in everything, however. China does worse than average for its smoking rate₃₇, its alcohol consumption rate₃₈, its suicide rate₃₉ and in its fertility rate₁₅. The number 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. China is amongst only 41 countries who have seen their fertility rate drop by more than 4 since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 7.51 in 1963; this long preceded the 1-child-rule period.

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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₈
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₈
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
104	Dominican Rep.	6.9
105=	Antigua & Barbuda	7.0
105=	Niue	7.0
107=	China	7.2
107=	Paraguay	7.2
109	Mongolia	7.4
110=	Albania	7.5
110=	Burundi	7.5
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
137	Jordan	2.79
138	Kyrgyzstan	2.80
139	Aruba	1.18
140	China	1.18
141	Algeria	2.83
142	Spain	1.16
143	Malta	1.15
144	Egypt	2.88
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		Smoking in the 2020s %₃₇
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
105	Sweden	22.7%
106	Afghanistan	22.7%
107	Luxembourg	23.0%
108	China	23.4%
109	Poland	23.6%
110	Argentina	23.8%
111	India	24.4%
112	USA	24.4%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k₃₉
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
	...
111	Namibia	8.78
112	Argentina	8.95
113	Singapore	9.08
114=	China	9.15
114=	Mauritius	9.15
116	Gabon	9.25
117	Fiji	9.67
118	Togo	9.77
	Asia Avg	7.22
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₄
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 better₃₃
Pos.		1976 %₃₃
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
38	Benin	9.8
39	Togo	10.0
40	Cape Verde	10.1
41	China	10.2
42	Central African Rep.	10.3
43	Sierra Leone	10.4
44	Equatorial Guinea	10.5
45	Comoros	10.8
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₄₀
Pos.		2022 %₄₀
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
23	Laos	7.8%
24	Congo, (Brazzaville)	8.0%
25	S. Sudan	8.0%
26	China	8.2%
27	Guinea	8.3%
28	Senegal	8.7%
29	Philippines	8.7%
30	Mozambique	8.8%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₅
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
48	Montenegro	9.7
49	UK	10.0
50	Latvia	10.5
51	China	11.1
52	Belarus	11.2
53	Malta	11.5
54	Algeria	11.6
55	Saudi Arabia	11.6
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₃₂
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %₃₂
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
20=	Andorra	98.4
21	Japan	98.2
22=	Singapore	98.1
22=	China	98.1
22=	Morocco	98.1
25	Tokelau	98.0
26=	Greece	98.0
26=	Bangladesh	98.0
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₃₁
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₁
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	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.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		Infant Mortality (2020s) Per 1000₃₆
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
65	Antigua & Barbuda	11.08
66	Georgia	11.17
67	Oman	11.23
68	China	11.43
69	Tonga	12.05
70=	Argentina	12.18
70=	Thailand	12.18
72	Barbados	12.81
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #china #china_and_the_environment #china_environment #climate_change #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₁
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
70	Chad	74.4
71	UK	74.4
72	Turkey	75.0
73	China	75.2
74	Belgium	75.3
75	Cape Verde	75.6
	Asia Avg	88.09
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

China is the 3^rd-richest country for plant species diversity₄₂. China comes 73rd in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This is computed from 21 data sets. China comes in the best 20 for its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₃. It does better than average when it comes to its score on the Green Future Index₄₄ (one of the best in Asia) and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. Although in 1983 "environmental protection was declared a basic national principle" in reality, economic development often takes priority and "many environmental protection laws and policies [are] not effectively implemented or enforced"₄₅. Nonetheless by 2005 it had made "a big effort to protect its outstanding biodiversity with 1,757 nature reserves covering 13% of its land plus numerous zoos, wildlife centres and gene banks"₄₅. It has some unique environmentally-wise cultural practices, such as raising fish in irrigated rice fields, simultaneously producing fertiliser and controlling pests₄₅. It has gained positive commendations for its epic effort to artificially bring parts of its ancient Taklamakan Desert to productive life, which is successful enough that its absorption of CO₂ is detectable from space₄₆.

China does not succeed in everything, however. China does worse than average when it comes to reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₇, reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₇, its environmental performance₄₈ and in energy to GDP efficiency₄₉. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₅₀ (one of the lowest in Asia).

China's list of worsening environmental problems is formidable: biodiversity loss, disappearing wetlands, grassland degradation, overgrazing, soil erosion and desertification, trash accumulation, river flow cessation, salinization, water pollution and water shortages₄₂, and some of its cities have the worst air pollution in the world₅₁.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

China and the Environment

7. China's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)₅₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₅₂
1	S. Korea	23.5
2	Taiwan	25.4
3	Japan	27.4
	...
15	Armenia	65.6
16	Thailand	68.4
17	Uzbekistan	68.5
18	China	69.3
19	Lebanon	69.8
20	UAE	71.4
21	Vietnam	74.8
22	Bahrain	77.9
23	Kuwait	78.6
	Asia Avg	86.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₅₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₅₂
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
78	Tunisia	68.7
79	Venezuela	68.8
80	Mauritius	69.1
81	China	69.3
82	Lebanon	69.8
83	UAE	71.4
84	USA	72.0
85	Albania	73.0
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Iceland and Denmark₅₃. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₅₃. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₄.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₅₅

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₅₃, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₃.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.29₅₆
2	Israel	4.11₅₆
3	Japan	3.58₅₆
	...
119=	Honduras	0.04₅₇
119=	Guatemala	0.04₅₈
119=	Bahrain	0.04₅₉
119=	Colombia	0.04₅₉
123=	Iraq	0.03₆₀
123=	El Salvador	0.03₅₈
123=	China	0.03₅₉
126	Lesotho	0.01₆₀
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₄
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.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₆₁
Pos.		2025 %₆₁
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
31=	Costa Rica	95
31=	Argentina	95
31=	Kosovo	95
31=	China	95
31=	Taiwan	95
31=	Honduras	95
31=	Vietnam	95
31=	Venezuela	95
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

China officially adopted metric in 1925₆₂. Progression:

1960 (70%): Metric adopted officially; traditional units common.
1970 (80%): Increased standardization; dual use persists.
1980 (90%): Commerce/industry largely metric; informal traditional units remain.
2000 (95%): Officially metric; limited colloquial traditional use.
2025 (95%).

Religiosity Lower is better₆₃
Pos.		2018 %₆₃
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
4=	Switzerland	9
4=	Denmark	9
6=	Germany	10
6=	UK	10
6=	Sweden	10
6=	Japan	10
6=	Finland	10
11=	Latvia	11
11=	France	11
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better₆₄
Pos.		2006₆₄
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
4=	Japan	105
4=	Taiwan	105
4=	China	105
7	Italy	102
8=	Iceland	101
8=	Switzerland	101
8=	Mongolia	101
11=	Netherlands	100
11=	Norway	100
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education #english #maths #science

Secondary Education Higher is better₆₅
Pos.		2018₆₅
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	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 better₆₆
Pos.		2021 Years₆₆
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better₆₇
Pos.		2015 Score₆₇
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
7=	Canada	1571
8	Finland	1568
9	S. Korea	1557
10	China	1543₆₈
11=	Ireland	1528
11=	Slovenia	1528
13=	Germany	1524
13=	Netherlands	1524
	Asia Avg	1398
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#it_security #modernity #politics #technology #the_internet

Internet Users (2020s) Higher is better
Pos.		Internet Users (2020s)
1=	Iceland	99%
1=	Kuwait	99%
1=	UAE	99%
	...
78	Nauru	82%
79	Dominica	81%
80	Italy	81%
81	China	80%
82	Uzbekistan	80%
83	Kyrgyzstan	80%
84	Ukraine	80%
85	Bosnia & Herzegovina	79%
	Asia Avg	74.9%
	World Avg	67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better₆₉
Pos.		2012₆₉
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
40	Vietnam	73
41=	Ethiopia	75
41=	Myanmar	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 better₇₀
Pos.		2013₇₀
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	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 better₇₁
Pos.		2017 Ratio₇₁
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
62=	Moldova	0.3
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better₇₂
Pos.		2024₇₂
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
42	Argentina	56.2%
43	UAE	55.8%
44	Chile	55.0%
45	China	54.8%
46	Uruguay	54.8%
47	Ukraine	54.4%
48	Serbia	53.5%
49	Turkey	52.2%
	Asia Avg	46.4%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. China's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Asia (2025)₇₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₇₃
1	Singapore	18.1
2	Hong Kong	36.9
3	Japan	38.5
	...
19	Kazakhstan	74.1
20	Indonesia	79.1
21	Turkey	80.0
22	China	82.0
23	Bahrain	84.2
24	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	84.5
25	Armenia	84.6
26	Philippines	85.1
27	Vietnam	86.9
	Asia Avg	84.83
q=51.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)₇₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₇₃
1	Denmark	11.6
2	Finland	13.4
3	Netherlands	13.6
	...
83	Guatemala	81.2
84	St Vincent & Grenadines	81.6
85	Fiji	81.6
86	China	82.0
87	Vanuatu	82.1
88	Grenada	82.3
89	El Salvador	82.4
90	Morocco	82.5
	World Avg	81.27
q=187.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 32 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, passport utility (so far), Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

"Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #china #corruption #happiness #indonesia #morals #politics

World Giving Index Higher is better₇₄
Pos.		2022 %₇₄
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
50=	Ghana	43.0
51=	Sweden	42.0
51=	Colombia	42.0
51=	China	42.0
51=	Ecuador	42.0
55=	Bulgaria	41.0
55=	Slovakia	41.0
55=	Germany	41.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.

Corruption Higher is better₇₅
Pos.		2022 Points₇₅
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
62=	Malaysia	47.0
63=	Armenia	46.0
63=	Romania	46.0
65=	China	45.0
65=	Sao Tome & Principe	45.0
65=	Montenegro	45.0
65=	Cuba	45.0
69=	Jamaica	44.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

When the Corruption Perception Index was launched in 1995, China had the 2nd-worst score of the 50-or-so countries for which they gathered data, after Indonesia. And in 2015, a poll "found 84% thought corrupt officials were a big problem, and 44% think a 'very big problem' - no issue tested higher"₇₆. Despite that, in the 2022 Corruption Perception Index, China came 65th-best in the world; which although not a newsworthy accomplishment, is hovering at the entrance to the top-third of countries in the world. Many observers such as Transparency International think that the true scale of the problem is higher₇₆, but being hidden by the inability of civilians to observe the government.

Happiness Higher is better₇₇
Pos.		2024 Score₇₇
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
65	Peru	5.9
66	Russia	5.9
67	Cyprus	5.9
68	China	5.9
69	Hungary	5.9
70	Trinidad & Tobago	5.9
71	Montenegro	5.9
72=	Croatia	5.9
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₄
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 better₃₄
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₄
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.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

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

Global Peace Index Lower is better₇₈
Pos.		2023 Score₇₈
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. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₄
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 better₃₄
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₄
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 better₇₉
Pos.		2019 Score₇₉
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.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

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

Some observers such as Transparency International are worried about inequality in China, citing the vastly different fortunes of those in government favour to the rest of society. Their concerns aren't matched by the large-scale statistics; TI's own Corruption Perception Index in 2022 placed China just inside the top third of the world. But the numbers never tell the full story, and China's huge population can easily mask problems. Here's what TI say:

“China [...] has suffered some of the highest levels of both income and wealth inequality in the world over the last decade. The country is polarised, with 200 of the wealthiest individuals now sharing over a quarter of the country's wealth - the majority of which have succeeded as a result of an economic system that favour[s] relationships and patronage with the ruling elite. A 2015 national survey by the Pew Research Centre found 84% thought corrupt officials were a big problem, and 44% think a 'very big problem' - no issue tested higher.”
"The Fifth Column: Understanding the relationship between corruption and conflict"
Transparency International (2017)₇₆

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₈₀
Pos.		2019₈₀
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
65=	Uruguay	7.90
65=	Thailand	7.90
65=	Georgia	7.90
65=	China	7.90
69	Argentina	8.60
70=	Barbados	8.70
70=	Armenia	8.70
72=	Tunisia	9.00
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₈₁
Pos.		2023 %₈₁
1	Slovakia	24.1%₈₂
2	Slovenia	24.3%₈₂
3	Belarus	24.4%₈₃
	...
87=	Liberia	35.3%₈₄
87=	Ivory Coast	35.3%₈₂
89	Marshall Islands	35.5%₈₅
90=	China	35.7%₈₂
90=	Sierra Leone	35.7%₈₆
90=	Mali	35.7%₈₂
93=	Vietnam	36.1%₈₇
93=	Indonesia	36.1%₈₈
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₈₉
Pos.		2018 Severity₈₉
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
21	Macedonia	.010
22	Guyana	.014
23	Dominican Rep.	.015
24	China	.016
25	Brazil	.016₉₀
26	Belize	.017
27	Ecuador	.018
28	Jamaica	.018
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #china #confucianism #eastern_religion #religion_in_china #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 them₉₁_,₉₂_,₉₃_,₉₄_,₉₅. 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 world₉₆ 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 all₉₇ and most new religious movements are suppressed₉₈_,₉₉.

For more, see:

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