The Human Truth Foundation

Which are the Best Mediterranean Countries?

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

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#human_development

Social & Moral
Development Index
1
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank1
1France42.9
2Spain44.5
3Slovenia45.6
4Italy47.2
5Cyprus53.9
6Malta55.8
7Greece57.7
8Monaco59.0
9Croatia61.8
10Israel69.1
...
19Egypt100.3
20Libya112.9
21Syria119.1
The Mediterranean Avg71.0
World Avg88.6
q=21.

These countries all have coastlines on the Mediterranean, and are thus generally considered to be attractive places for holidays, retirements, and thrill-seeking by the rest of Europe, due to the warmer Mediterranean weather.

There are 22 locations that fall within this category. By adding up all the known populations that fall within these locations, and summing their physical land areas, we can calculate population densities. Some islands and territories can end up being counted twice depending on how they are classified and divided up politically, but, mostly such errors involve only small populations. So, some data on this collection of countries in total:


1. Summary Data

#economics #human_development #population #wealth

Pos.Population (2018)
Population2
Social & Moral
Lower is better

Avg Rank1
Gross National
Income (2021)
Higher is better
PPP $3
UN HDI (2021)
Higher is better

Value3
Land Area (2011)
km24
People
Per km2
Lower is better
1Albania2.9m75.4$14 1310.796 27 400 105
2Algeria42.2m98.2$10 8000.7452 381 740 18
3Bosnia & Herzegovina3.3m77.7$15 2420.780 51 000 65
4Croatia4.2m61.8$30 1320.858 55 960 74
5Cyprus1.2m53.9$38 1880.896 9 240 129
6Egypt98.4m100.3$11 7320.731 995 450 99
7France65.0m42.9$45 9370.903 547 660 119
8Greece10.5m57.7$29 0020.887 128 900 82
9Israel8.4m69.1$41 5240.919 21 640 387
10Italy60.6m47.2$42 8400.895 294 140 206
11Lebanon6.9m95.0$9 5260.706 10 230 671
12Libya6.7m112.9$15 3360.7181 759 540 4
13Malta0.4m55.8$38 8840.918 3201 373
14Monaco38 68259.0 219 341
15Montenegro0.6m72.2$20 8390.832 13 450 47
16Morocco36.0m83.9$7 3030.683 446 300 81
17Slovenia2.1m45.6$39 7460.918 20 140 103
18Spain46.7m44.5$38 3540.905 498 800 94
19Syria16.9m119.1$4 1920.577 183 630 92
20Tunisia11.6m76.2$10 2580.731 155 360 74
21Turkey82.3m79.2$31 0330.838 769 630 107
22Palestine4.9m$6 5830.715
The Mediterranean Avg23.3m71.0$23 8850.81 398 597 58
World Avg39.0m88.6$20 1360.72 620 450 63
q=22.

Not showing due to lack of data: Palestine.

This page only shows places where the database has enough data to be able to come to reasonable conclusions about each place. The main focus is on nation states, but, some distinct external territories may be listed if the database has enough information about them. Averages are calculated from as many valid data points as possible, meaning, that some territories and locations that are not listed above may still be used to calculate some of the average values. Some calculations only use Independent State data - hover the cursor over values to see hints.

Links:

2. Social and Moral Development

#charitability #climate_change #culture #education #equality #freedom #gender_equality #health #human_development #human_rights #modernity #morals #peace #politics #prejudice #technology #the_environment #the_internet #tolerance

Here are each country's overall scores across the categories that make up the Social and Moral Development Index. This is followed by lists of how each country scores in each individual data set.

Pos.Social & Moral
Lower is better

Avg Rank1
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)
Lower is better

Avg Rank5
Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)
Lower is better

Avg Rank6
Modernity & Learning (2020)
Lower is better

Avg Rank7
Health (2025)
Lower is better

Avg Rank8
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)
Lower is better

Avg Rank9
1France42.972.841.326.844.125.8
2Spain44.559.545.030.060.424.5
3Slovenia45.682.132.622.559.427.8
4Italy47.263.148.634.056.230.8
5Cyprus53.964.847.455.663.140.5
6Malta55.892.236.845.959.939.7
7Greece57.761.470.936.360.552.4
8Monaco59.092.114.371.7
9Croatia61.888.552.947.863.054.9
10Israel69.195.868.629.570.265.7
11Montenegro72.297.373.264.963.865.3
12Albania75.491.566.076.471.473.6
13Tunisia76.260.174.970.869.295.2
14Bosnia & Herzegovina77.7103.568.965.675.076.0
15Turkey79.275.086.855.978.687.4
16Morocco83.946.577.097.991.9107.0
17Lebanon95.0103.9105.482.176.8104.4
18Algeria98.279.786.2100.2100.7119.6
19Egypt100.378.093.680.5117.0118.4
20Libya112.9121.4115.882.098.0130.3
21Syria119.177.4124.9126.9122.2137.3
The Mediterranean Avg71.080.9772.2263.0286.8576.94
World Avg88.684.9378.1286.3196.7486.55
q=21.

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.

For more, see:

3. Demographics and Migration

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

Population:

Pos.Population (2018)
Population2
Life
Expectancy (2021)
Higher is better

Years3
Fertility Rate (2022)
2.0 is best
10
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)
Lower is better

Per 10011
1Albania2.9m76.51.3831.8
2Algeria42.2m76.42.8314.0
3Bosnia & Herzegovina3.3m75.31.3537.3
4Croatia4.2m77.61.5339.7
5Cyprus1.2m81.21.3126.9
6Egypt98.4m70.22.8810.5
7France65.0m82.51.7940.5
8Greece10.5m80.11.4341.3
9Israel8.4m82.32.8922.9
10Italy60.6m82.91.2448.6
11Lebanon6.9m75.02.0821.1
12Libya6.7m71.92.4010.5
13Malta0.4m83.81.1539.9
14Monaco38 68285.9
15Montenegro0.6m76.31.8030.0
16Morocco36.0m74.02.3016.1
17Slovenia2.1m80.71.5542.7
18Spain46.7m83.01.1641.4
19Syria16.9m72.12.7009.0
20Tunisia11.6m73.82.0618.6
21Turkey82.3m76.01.8818.0
22Palestine4.9m73.506.5
The Mediterranean Avg23.3m77.771.8927.0
World Avg39.0m71.282.4718.3
q=22.

Migration:

Pos.Immigrants (2017)
%12
Emigrants (2010)
%13
1Albania1.8%45.4%
2Algeria0.6%3.4%
3Bosnia & Herzegovina1.1%38.9%
4Croatia13.4%17.1%
5Cyprus16.0%17.0%
6Egypt0.5%4.4%
7France12.2%2.8%
8Greece10.9%10.8%
9Israel23.6%14.0%
10Italy10.0%5.8%
11Lebanon31.9%15.6%
12Libya12.4%1.7%
13Malta10.6%26.2%
14Monaco54.9%56.3%
15Montenegro11.3%0.0%
16Morocco0.3%9.3%
17Slovenia11.8%6.5%
18Spain12.8%3.0%
19Syria5.5%4.2%
20Tunisia0.5%6.3%
21Turkey6.0%5.6%
22Palestine5.2%68.4%
The Mediterranean Avg11.5%16.5%
World Avg9.4%11.5%
q=22.

4. Responsibility Towards The Environment

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

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:

Pos.Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
14
Environmental Performance (2018)
Higher is better
15
Energy to GDP Efficiency (2022)
Lower is better
Avg16
International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Avg Rate
Rational Beliefs on the Environment (2011)
Higher is better
%17
Meat Consumption (2021)
Lower is better

kg18
Green Future Index (2023)
Higher is better

Score19
1Albania2.5%65.51.0847%9.4%52.0
2Algeria23.1%57.21.2054%23.5%17.93.1
3Bosnia & Herzegovina3.6%41.81.6045%44.0%46.8
4Croatia2.9%65.51.0051%37.8%90.8
5Cyprus0.5%72.60.9271%71.0%75.8
6Egypt-20.6%61.20.7663%30.1%29.14.0
7France12.5%84.00.9567%38.4%86.16.0
8Greece8.4%73.61.2062%77.6%76.85.6
9Israel-8.4%75.00.9455%27.6%107.74.6
10Italy13.8%77.00.8466%49.6%74.35.7
11Lebanon3.8%61.12.0649%54.3%36.3
12Libya0.0%49.82.0546%14.6%50.0
13Malta31.4%80.92.3655%57.3%67.8
14Monaco0.0%60%
15Montenegro32.1%61.31.0372%35.9%88.4
16Morocco4.2%63.50.8666%60.0%32.14.7
17Slovenia0.4%67.61.1556%45.1%61.2
18Spain8.6%78.40.9866%44.8%100.35.9
19Syria20.0%2.1254%26.6%17.8
20Tunisia5.2%62.40.9370%19.3%27.8
21Turkey10.0%53.00.8647%47.4%43.03.8
22Palestine11.5%0.9119%27.5%
The Mediterranean Avg7.5%65.81.2356.4%40.1%59.14.8
World Avg-0.1%56.41.2357.5%39.9%52.54.8
q=22.

5. Culture, Peace and Inequality

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

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:

Pos.World Giving Index (2022)
Higher is better

%20
Corruption (2022)
Higher is better

Points21
Happiness (2024)
Higher is better

Score22
Creativity & Culture (2017)
Lower is better

Rank23
Open Trading, Aid & Development (2017)
Lower is better

Rank23
1Albania34.036.05.47815
2Algeria30.033.05.6138160
3Bosnia & Herzegovina44.034.06.16945
4Croatia37.050.05.93810
5Cyprus40.052.05.94438
6Egypt23.030.03.8123134
7France32.072.06.61417
8Greece32.052.05.84750
9Israel37.063.07.26399
10Italy29.056.06.42636
11Lebanon24.024.03.26631
12Libya17.05.816397
13Malta45.051.06.32842
14Montenegro34.045.05.96171
15Morocco31.038.04.68543
16Slovenia39.056.06.81677
17Spain32.060.06.53034
18Syria13.0152147
19Tunisia28.040.04.69370
20Turkey40.036.05.37540
21Palestine4.8
The Mediterranean Avg33.942.905.6270.562.8
World Avg39.642.985.5882.082.0
q=21. No data: 124

Peace Versus Instability:

Pos.Global Peace Index (2023)
Lower is better

Score25
Peacekeeping & Security (2017)
Lower is better

Rank23
Refugees & UN Treaties (2017)
Lower is better

Rank23
Impact of Terrorism (2019)
Lower is better

Score26
1Albania1.7580740.42
2Algeria2.0922793.41
3Bosnia & Herzegovina1.89149351.39
4Croatia1.45146580.00
5Cyprus1.9073170.42
6Egypt2.2741206.79
7France1.9453165.01
8Greece1.89115314.17
9Israel2.71123844.53
10Italy1.6655143.11
11Lebanon2.58153764.40
12Libya2.611451126.77
13Malta1245
14Montenegro1.77128411.00
15Morocco2.02101141.22
16Slovenia1.33160180.00
17Spain1.6571153.35
18Syria3.291311428.01
19Tunisia2.0131073.94
20Turkey2.8078396.53
21Palestine2.545.18
The Mediterranean Avg2.1191.259.93.48
World Avg2.0782.082.02.78
q=21. No data: 124

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Pos.Inequality in Life Expectancy (2019)
Lower is better27
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) (2023)
Lower is better

%28
Multidimensional Poverty (2018)
Lower is better

Severity29
1Albania7.2029.4%30.003
2Algeria14.1027.6%31.008
3Bosnia & Herzegovina5.4033.0%31.008
4Croatia4.3028.9%32
5Cyprus3.6031.3%32
6Egypt11.6031.9%33.019
7France3.8031.5%32
8Greece3.5032.9%32
9Israel3.3037.9%32
10Italy3.1034.8%32
11Lebanon7.4031.8%31
12Libya9.10.007
13Malta4.6031.4%30
14Montenegro3.6034.3%32.002
15Morocco13.0039.5%34.085
16Slovenia2.9024.3%32
17Spain3.0033.9%32
18Syria13.0026.6%35.029
19Tunisia9.0033.7%32.005
20Turkey9.0044.4%32
21Palestine12.0033.7%36.004
The Mediterranean Avg6.9832.6%.017
World Avg14.5936.5%.154
q=21. No data: 124

6. Modernity and Learning

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

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 Denmark37. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone37. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots38.

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)39

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 Europe37, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia37.

For more, see:

Modernity and Education:

Pos.Research & Development (2016)
Higher is better

% RDP PPP
Secondary Education (2018)
Higher is better
40
Length of Schooling (2021)
Higher is better

Years41
Intellectual Endeavours (2017)
Lower is better

Rank23
Maths, Science & Reading (2015)
Higher is better

Score42
Religiosity (2018)
Lower is better

%43
IQ (2006)
Higher is better44
1Albania0.154592.9%14.410512451590
2Algeria0.074638.9%14.611310867383
3Bosnia & Herzegovina0.334781.2%13.81654
4Croatia0.814795.7%15.13314264290
5Cyprus0.484780.3%15.6311313
6Egypt0.684765.3%13.8607281
7France2.264883.5%15.82414871198
8Greece0.844864.8%20.02713765692
9Israel4.114889.1%16.13414163695
10Italy1.294879.6%16.241145621102
11Lebanon54.9%11.36811295782
12Libya57.4%12.915083
13Malta0.894778.2%16.8621391
14Montenegro0.384791.6%15.1481256
15Morocco0.734932.2%14.2459184
16Slovenia2.394897.6%17.710152896
17Spain1.224875.8%17.94014752298
18Syria41.0%9.214083
19Tunisia0.685051.8%15.47211147883
20Turkey1.014853.1%18.355127368
21Palestine61.1%13.486
The Mediterranean Avg1.0869.8%15.158.7133152.189.3
World Avg0.8463.0%13.582.0138954.385.6
q=21. No data: 124

Technology and Information:

Pos.Internet Users (2016)
Higher is better
51
Internet Freedom (2012)
Lower is better
52
IT Security (2013)
Lower is better
53
IPv6 Uptake (2017)
Higher is better

Ratio54
Digital Quality of Life (2024)
Higher is better
55
1Albania63%0.046.7%
2Algeria20%0.033.2%
3Bosnia & Herzegovina62%3.138.8%
4Croatia74%0.161.1%
5Cyprus72%0.061.6%
6Egypt33%590.442.5%
7France86%1.1318.873.9%
8Greece65%33.558.9%
9Israel73%0.201.865.4%
10Italy66%231.151.763.3%
11Lebanon76%0.0
12Libya21%430.630.0
13Malta80%0.061.0%
14Monaco93%0.0
15Montenegro62%0.044.9%
16Morocco58%0.044.8%
17Slovenia72%5.462.3%
18Spain82%0.880.670.5%
19Syria30%830.0
20Tunisia48%460.040.4%
21Turkey58%460.520.352.2%
22Palestine63%0.0
The Mediterranean Avg61.6%50.00.752.9854.2%
World Avg48.1%46.70.983.8248.4%
q=22.

7. Health

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

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 Man56. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria56.

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 Balkans56, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia56.

For more, see:

Health:

Pos.Life
Expectancy (2021)
Higher is better

Years3
Alcohol Consumption (2016)
Lower is better

Per Capita57
Fertility Rate (2022)
2.0 is best
10
Smoking Rates (2014)
Lower is better
58
Suicide Rate (2013)
Per 100k59
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)
Lower is better

Rank23
Overweight Adults (2016)
Lower is better

%60
1Albania76.57.51.381 177813857.7
2Algeria76.40.92.831 02415962.0
3Bosnia & Herzegovina75.36.41.352 2339553.3
4Croatia77.68.91.531 70936.48359.6
5Cyprus81.210.81.311 6889.15959.1
6Egypt70.20.42.881 1880.17363.5
7France82.512.61.79 99333.22359.5
8Greece80.110.41.432 08672962.3
9Israel82.33.82.891 3468.55164.3
10Italy82.97.51.241 44312.82458.5
11Lebanon75.01.52.083 0236367.9
12Libya71.90.02.401 3336115666.8
13Malta83.88.11.151 2666.97666.4
14Monaco85.9
15Montenegro76.38.01.804 12513459.4
16Morocco74.00.62.30 6715860.4
17Slovenia80.712.61.552 637445756.1
18Spain83.010.01.161 26515.32261.6
19Syria72.10.32.70 4598861.4
20Tunisia73.81.92.061 6289261.6
21Turkey76.02.01.881 5814466.8
22Palestine73.5
The Mediterranean Avg77.775.71.891 64416.4876.261.4
World Avg71.286.22.47 81920.9382.049.0
q=22.

Children's Health:

Pos.Adolescent Birth Rate (2022)
Lower is better

Per 100062
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)
Higher is better

Avg %63
1Albania14.597.1
2Algeria11.695.0
3Bosnia & Herzegovina9.488.0
4Croatia8.295.9
5Cyprus6.895.3
6Egypt43.693.4
7France9.492.6
8Greece8.397.3
9Israel7.495.2
10Italy3.993.8
11Lebanon20.079.4
12Libya7.096.4
13Malta11.595.5
14Monaco6.997.3
15Montenegro9.789.9
16Morocco25.597.5
17Slovenia4.495.2
18Spain6.396.5
19Syria38.162.4
20Tunisia6.695.7
21Turkey15.795.5
22Palestine42.9
The Mediterranean Avg14.492.6
World Avg43.888.3
q=22.

8. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

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

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)9
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank9
1Spain24.5
2France25.8
3Slovenia27.8
4Italy30.8
5Malta39.7
6Cyprus40.5
7Greece52.4
8Croatia54.9
9Montenegro65.3
10Israel65.7
...
20Libya130.3
21Syria137.3
22Palestine145.3
The Mediterranean Avg76.94
World Avg86.55
q=22.

The best countries in The Mediterranean at protecting human rights, engendering tolerance and supporting equality, are Spain, France and Slovenia and the bloc as a whole does better than the global average. The worst countries are Palestine, Syria and Libya.

For full commentary and data, see:

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #folk_religion #god #hinduism #human_development #islam #judaism #no_religion #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Pos.Religiosity (2018)
Lower is better

%43
Disbelief In God (2007)
Higher is better
%64
Jews (2010)
%65
Christians (2010)
%65
Muslims (2010)
%65
Hindus (2010)
%65
Buddhists (2010)
%65
Folk Religion (2010)
%65
Unaffiliated (2010)
%65
1Albania1580.118.080.30.10.10.11.4
2Algeria7300.10.297.90.10.10.11.8
3Bosnia & Herzegovina540.152.345.20.10.10.12.5
4Croatia4270.193.41.40.10.10.15.1
5Cyprus0.173.225.30.10.20.11.2
6Egypt7200.15.194.90.10.10.10.1
7France11440.563.07.50.10.50.328.0
8Greece56160.188.15.30.10.10.16.1
9Israel361575.62.018.60.10.30.23.1
10Italy2160.183.33.70.10.20.112.4
11Lebanon5730.138.361.30.10.20.10.3
12Libya00.12.796.60.10.30.10.2
13Malta0.197.00.20.20.10.12.5
14Monaco1.786.00.40.10.10.111.7
15Montenegro0.178.118.70.10.10.13.2
16Morocco9100.10.199.00.10.10.10.1
17Slovenia350.178.43.60.10.10.118.0
18Spain22150.178.62.10.10.10.119.0
19Syria00.15.292.80.10.10.12.0
20Tunisia7800.10.299.00.10.10.10.2
21Turkey680.10.498.00.10.10.11.2
22Palestine860.12.497.60.10.10.10.1
The Mediterranean Avg52.19.93.643.047.70.10.20.15.5
World Avg54.39.90.560.622.42.03.52.77.9
q=22.

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