The Human Truth Foundation

China (People's Republic of China)

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

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

#china

China
People's Republic of China
Flag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index80th 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
...
76Iran0.774
77Ukraine0.773
78Macedonia0.770
79China0.768
80=Moldova0.767
80=Palau0.767
80=Dominican Rep.0.767
83Cuba0.764
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
...
69Dominican Rep.$17 990
70Mexico$17 896
71Nauru$17 730
72China$17 504
73Thailand$17 030
74Antigua & Barbuda$16 792
75Botswana$16 198
76Macedonia$15 918
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Denmark27.0
2Norway29.9
3Sweden31.8
...
77Antigua & Barbuda82.3
78Philippines82.5
79Colombia82.7
80China82.8
81Vietnam82.9
82St Kitts & Nevis83.0
83India83.1
84S. Africa83.5
Asia Avg92.0
World Avg88.6
q=199.

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:

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. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.13

Population2
Pos.2018
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
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
39UAE78.7
40Kuwait78.7
41Antigua & Barbuda78.5
42China78.2
43Czechia77.7
44Croatia77.6
45Barbados77.6
46USA77.2
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
137Jordan2.79
138Kyrgyzstan2.80
139Aruba1.18
140China1.18
141Algeria2.83
142Spain1.16
143Malta1.15
144Egypt2.88
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
15
Pos.2016
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
127Israel22.9
128Sri Lanka23.7
129Moldova24.7
130China25.3
131Mauritius25.9
132Uruguay26.8
133Cyprus26.9
134Chile27.0
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.2017
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
188N. Korea0.2%
189Sri Lanka0.2%
190Myanmar (Burma)0.1%
191Madagascar0.1%
192Indonesia0.1%
193Cuba0.1%
194Vietnam0.1%
195China0.1%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants17
Pos.2010
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
185Qatar0.7%
186Nigeria0.6%
187Maldives0.6%
188China0.6%
189Japan0.6%
190Oman0.5%
191Madagascar0.4%
192Montenegro0.0%
World Avg11.5%
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)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Sweden6.1
2Denmark8.6
3Norway9.0
...
128Tajikistan106.4
129Kenya106.8
130Morocco107.0
131China107.2
132Mozambique107.6
133Indonesia107.7
Asia Avg103.00
World Avg86.55
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 report19. 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"19. 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"20. China's censorship of Internet access is already one of the most draconian worldwide and these controls were made even stronger in 201719.

China does worse than average in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports21, LGBT equality22, its nominal commitment to Human Rights23, its average Freedom in the World rating and in freethought24. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms25 and in supporting press freedom26 (one of the lowest in Asia).

"Foreign governments did little in 2017 to push back against China's worsening rights record at home and abroad"19. China and Russia both worked together to prevent and delay investigations of widespread human rights abuses in Syria by the International Criminal Court27. 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 (2025)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1=Japan44.1
2Hong Kong48.2
3Singapore49.5
...
8Brunei61.4
9Cyprus63.1
10=Kuwait66.8
10=China66.8
12Bahrain69.3
13Israel70.2
14Qatar70.7
15Thailand74.5
16=Armenia75.5
Asia Avg80.90
q=50.
Health (2025)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1Monaco14.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Isle of Man32.1
...
50=Antigua & Barbuda63.2
51Montenegro63.8
52St Martin66.7
53=China66.8
53=Kuwait66.8
55Estonia67.8
56Tunisia69.2
57Mauritius69.2
World Avg96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man29. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria29.

21 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, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans29, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia29.

For more, see:

Health:

China does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. China performs the best in terms of its immunizations take-up30. It does better than average in its average life expectancy11, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance31 and in its adolescent birth rate32. But, things could still be better. China does worse than average in its alcohol consumption rate33 and in its fertility rate14. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in its smoking rate34 (one of the worst in Asia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 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 better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
39UAE78.7
40Kuwait78.7
41Antigua & Barbuda78.5
42China78.2
43Czechia77.7
44Croatia77.6
45Barbados77.6
46USA77.2
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
33
Pos.2016
Per Capita33
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
104Dominican Rep.6.9
105=Antigua & Barbuda7.0
105=Niue7.0
107China7.2
108=Paraguay7.2
109Mongolia7.4
110=Albania7.5
110=Burundi7.5
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
137Jordan2.79
138Kyrgyzstan2.80
139Aruba1.18
140China1.18
141Algeria2.83
142Spain1.16
143Malta1.15
144Egypt2.88
Asia Avg2.17
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
34
Pos.201434
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
171Kazakhstan2 157
172Czechia2 194
173Bosnia & Herzegovina2 233
174China2 250
175Luxembourg2 284
176Belgium2 353
177Slovenia2 637
178Russia2 690
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
45Mexico45
46Malaysia46
47Czechia47
48China48
49Singapore49
50Ecuador50
51Israel51
52Slovakia52
Asia Avg64.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
35
Pos.2016
%35
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
50Singapore31.8
51Gambia31.9
52Ghana32.0
53=China32.3
53=Mauritius32.3
55N. Korea32.4
56Thailand32.6
57Cameroon33.6
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
32
Pos.2022
Per 100032
1Hong Kong1.6
2Denmark1.8
3S. Korea2.1
...
48Montenegro9.7
49UK10.0
50Latvia10.5
51China11.1
52Belarus11.2
53Malta11.5
54Algeria11.6
55Saudi Arabia11.6
Asia Avg25.9
World Avg43.8
q=195.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
30
Pos.2015
Avg %30
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
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 Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #china #climate_change #deforestation #energy #environmentalism #food #internationalism #japan #meat #over-exploitation #pakistan #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)36
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank36
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Nepal47.9
3India49.5
...
14Yemen71.9
15Pakistan72.0
16Turkey75.0
17China75.2
18Afghanistan75.7
19Syria77.4
20Iran79.0
21UAE81.8
22Singapore83.3
Asia Avg86.44
q=51.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)36
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank36
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Uruguay43.2
3Switzerland45.0
...
70Chad74.4
71UK74.4
72Turkey75.0
73China75.2
74Belgium75.3
75Cape Verde75.6
76Afghanistan75.7
77New Zealand75.8
World Avg84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

With respect to its responsibility towards the environment, China ranks 73rd in the world. This rank is derived from 8 data sets. China comes in the best 20 for its forested percent change 2000-202037. It does better than average in its score on the Green Future Index38 (amongst the highest in Asia) and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. But, things still need to improve in China. China does worse than average in terms of reducing annual meat consumption per person39, reducing annual meat consumption per person39, its environmental performance40 and in energy to GDP efficiency41. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population42 (amongst the lowest in Asia).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
37
Pos.Total37
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
9Kuwait28.9%
10Uzbekistan23.3%
11Algeria23.1%
12China23.0%
13Vietnam23.0%
14Ireland22.8%
15Syria20.0%
16Guam16.7%
Asia Avg3.2%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.

From 2000 to 2010, China restored its forest cover by 13%, from 177001 thousand hectares to 200610 thousand; this was five times more than any other country's restoration in absolute hectares. It added a further 10% by 2020, in total setting an impressive precedent in Asia and for the world.

Environmental Performance
Higher is better
40
Pos.201840
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
117Zambia51.0
118Grenada50.9
119Tanzania50.8
120China50.7
121Thailand49.9
122Micronesia49.8
123Libya49.8
124Ghana49.7
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Lower is better
41
Pos.2022
Avg41
1Rwanda0.25
2Chad0.26
3Tanzania0.31
...
133S. Korea1.67
134Tajikistan1.67
135Mongolia1.68
136China1.68
137UAE1.73
138Zimbabwe1.74
139Saudi Arabia1.76
140Serbia1.79
Asia Avg1.50
World Avg1.23
q=165.
International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Pos.Total
Avg Rate
1Sweden83%
2Canada82%
3Norway81%
...
61Congo, DR65%
62Sri Lanka65%
63Madagascar65%
64China64%
65Malaysia64%
66Botswana64%
67El Salvador64%
68Iran64%
Asia Avg55.4%
World Avg57.5%
q=197.
China was one of the 19 countries that signed the Basel Convention on its very first day, and one of the 30 who signed the Convention on Biological Diversity on its first day.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better
42
Pos.2011
%42
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
134Tunisia19.3%
135Czechia16.0%
136Estonia15.9%
137China15.1%
138Denmark14.9%
139Libya14.6%
140Iceland13.1%
141Uzbekistan11.3%
Asia Avg37.9%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
39
Pos.2021
kg39
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
108Bulgaria61.8
109Moldova61.9
110Costa Rica62.2
111China63.6
112Uruguay62.8
113Jamaica63.4
114Slovakia63.5
115China63.6
Asia Avg46.7
World Avg52.5
q=185.
Green Future Index
Higher is better
38
Pos.2023
Score38
1Iceland6.7
2Finland6.7
3Norway6.4
...
24Costa Rica5.3
25S. Africa5.2
26Uruguay5.1
27China5.1
28Japan5.1
29Hungary5.1
30Chile5.1
31Czechia5.0
Asia Avg4.3
World Avg4.8
q=76.

The 2023 edition of the Green Futures Index found that China's nuclear energy production growth has recently been higher than any of the other countries it reviewed (except Japan and Pakistan), helping its transition towards sustainability.43

7. China's Modernity and Learning

#capitalism #charity #china #corruption #economics #education #english #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #indonesia #inequality #intelligence #it_security #life_expectancy #maths #modernity #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religion #religiosity #religious_violence #research #science #secularisation #social_development #technology #terrorism #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)44
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank44
1S. Korea22.2
2Japan24.7
3Israel29.5
...
12UAE64.3
13Georgia65.6
14Bahrain66.2
15China71.4
16Kuwait74.7
17Qatar74.8
18Thailand75.0
19Uzbekistan76.5
20Vietnam76.9
Asia Avg78.26
q=49.
Modernity & Learning (2020)44
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank44
1Finland7.1
2Belgium12.9
3Denmark13.6
...
67Moldova68.9
68Costa Rica69.8
69Tunisia70.8
70China71.4
71Fiji71.5
72Cuba72.8
73Trinidad & Tobago74.5
74Kuwait74.7
World Avg86.31
q=190.

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, Belgium and Denmark45. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone45. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots46.

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)47

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, 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 Europe45, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia45.

For more, see:

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2948
2Israel4.1148
3Japan3.5848
...
119=Honduras0.0449
119=Guatemala0.0450
119=Bahrain0.0451
119=Colombia0.0451
123Iraq0.0352
124=El Salvador0.0350
124=China0.0351
126Lesotho0.0152
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education
Higher is better
53
Pos.201853
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
61Italy79.6%
62Hong Kong79.4%
63Chile79.3%
64China78.6%
65Belize78.6%
66Malta78.2%
67Fiji76.9%
68S. Africa76.5%
Asia Avg66.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
54
Pos.2021
Years54
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
78Moldova14.4
79Serbia14.4
80Luxembourg14.4
81China14.2
82Romania14.2
83Antigua & Barbuda14.2
84Morocco14.2
85Sri Lanka14.1
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
67India67
68Lebanon68
69Senegal69
70China70
71Burundi71
72Tunisia72
73Timor-Leste (E. Timor)73
74Chile74
Asia Avg97.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Maths, Science & Reading
Higher is better
55
Pos.2015
Score55
1Singapore1655
2Hong Kong1598
3Japan1586
...
7=Canada1571
8Finland1568
9S. Korea1557
10China154356
11=Ireland1528
11=Slovenia1528
13Germany1524
14=Netherlands1524
Asia Avg1398
World Avg1389
q=70.
Religiosity
Lower is better
57
Pos.2018
%57
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4=Switzerland9
4=Denmark9
6Germany10
7=UK10
7=Sweden10
7=Japan10
7=Finland10
11Latvia11
12=France11
Asia Avg55.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ
Higher is better58
Pos.200658
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
4=Japan105
4=Taiwan105
4=China105
7Italy102
8=Iceland101
8=Switzerland101
8=Mongolia101
11Netherlands100
12=Norway100
Asia Avg90.4
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
59
Pos.201659
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
91=Serbia54%
92Maldives54%
93Georgia53%
94China52%
95=Vietnam52%
95=S. Africa52%
97Dominican Rep.52%
98Uzbekistan51%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
Freedom On The Internet
Lower is better
60
Pos.201260
1Estonia10
2USA12
3Germany15
...
40Vietnam73
41=Ethiopia75
41=Myanmar (Burma)75
43Uzbekistan77
44Syria83
45China85
46Cuba86
47Iran90
Asia Avg56.6
World Avg46.7
q=47.
IT Security
Lower is better
61
Pos.201361
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
...
69Rwanda1.50
70Tanzania1.50
71Maldives1.57
72China1.59
73Angola1.61
74Sri Lanka1.67
75Oman1.72
76Iraq1.84
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
62
Pos.2017
Ratio62
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
56Egypt0.4
57Mexico0.4
58Bhutan0.4
59China0.3
60Iceland0.3
61Turkey0.3
62=Uruguay0.3
62=Moldova0.3
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.
Digital Quality of Life
Higher is better
63
Pos.202463
1Germany77.9%
2Finland76.9%
3France73.9%
...
42Argentina56.2%
43UAE55.8%
44Chile55.0%
45China54.8%
46Uruguay54.8%
47Ukraine54.4%
48Serbia53.5%
49Turkey52.2%
Asia Avg46.4%
World Avg48.4%
q=121.

8. China's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #charity #china #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #indonesia #inequality #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Asia (2020)64
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank64
1Singapore20.2
2Taiwan37.2
3Hong Kong40.5
...
21Vietnam76.6
22Philippines76.8
23Sri Lanka79.8
24China80.6
25Kyrgyzstan81.7
26Armenia82.2
27Bahrain82.3
28Uzbekistan82.9
29Nepal83.4
Asia Avg79.59
q=49.
Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)64
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank64
1Denmark11.2
2Norway13.9
3Netherlands14.4
...
83Bahamas79.7
84Sri Lanka79.8
85Senegal79.9
86China80.6
87Kyrgyzstan81.7
88Armenia82.2
89Bahrain82.3
90Uzbekistan82.9
World Avg78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

National Culture:

World Giving Index
Higher is better
65
Pos.2022
%65
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
50=Ghana43.0
51Sweden42.0
52=Colombia42.0
52=China42.0
52=Ecuador42.0
55Bulgaria41.0
56=Slovakia41.0
56=Germany41.0
Asia Avg37.9
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
66
Pos.2022
Points66
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
62Malaysia47.0
63Armenia46.0
64=Romania46.0
65China45.0
66=Sao Tome & Principe45.0
66=Montenegro45.0
66=Cuba45.0
69Jamaica44.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.

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"67. 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 higher67, but being hidden by the inability of civilians to observe the government.

Happiness
Higher is better
68
Pos.2024
Score68
1Finland7.7
2Denmark7.5
3Iceland7.5
...
65Peru5.9
66Russia5.9
67Cyprus5.9
68China5.9
69Hungary5.9
70Trinidad & Tobago5.9
71Montenegro5.9
72=Croatia5.9
Asia Avg5.41
World Avg5.58
q=147.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
108Lesotho108
109Georgia109
110Kuwait110
111China111
112Swaziland112
113Argentina113
114Qatar114
115Afghanistan115
Asia Avg99.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
110Ecuador110
111Malawi111
112Laos112
113China113
114S. Africa114
115Cape Verde115
116Russia116
117Angola117
Asia Avg86.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
69
Pos.2023
Score69
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
77Jamaica1.99
78Bolivia2.00
79Nepal2.01
80China2.01
81Tunisia2.01
82Equatorial Guinea2.01
83Dominican Rep.2.02
84=Morocco2.02
Asia Avg2.17
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
37Germany37
38Togo38
39Argentina39
40China40
41Canada41
42Azerbaijan42
43Senegal43
44Switzerland44
Asia Avg76.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
106Namibia106
107Tunisia107
108Cape Verde108
109China109
110Kazakhstan110
111Jordan111
112Libya112
113Belize113
Asia Avg92.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
70
Pos.2019
Score70
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
106Greece4.17
107Germany4.25
108Lebanon4.40
109China4.47
110S. Africa4.51
111Israel4.53
112Iran4.72
113Chad4.76
Asia Avg3.60
World Avg2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

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)67

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better71
Pos.201971
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
65Uruguay7.90
66=Thailand7.90
66=Georgia7.90
66=China7.90
69Argentina8.60
70=Barbados8.70
70=Armenia8.70
72Tunisia9.00
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
72
Pos.2023
%72
1Slovakia24.1%73
2Slovenia24.3%73
3Belarus24.4%74
...
87=Liberia35.3%75
87=Ivory Coast35.3%73
89Marshall Islands35.5%76
90=China35.7%73
90=Sierra Leone35.7%77
90=Mali35.7%73
93Vietnam36.1%78
94=Indonesia36.1%79
Asia Avg33.0%
World Avg36.5%
q=167.
Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better
80
Pos.2018
Severity80
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
21Macedonia.010
22Guyana.014
23Dominican Rep..015
24China.016
25Brazil.01681
26Belize.017
27Ecuador.018
28Jamaica.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 them82,83,84,85,86. 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 world87 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 all88 and most new religious movements are suppressed89,90.

For more, see: