Moldova preserves the same position in list of countries by Human Development Index

With a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.708, the Republic of Moldova takes the 111th position out of 177 countries included in the list. The index is lower than the regional average for Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS countries (0.808) and higher than the average HDI for the countries with medium human development (0.698). Moldova’s closest neighbours by HDI in the region are Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, which ranked the 109th and, respectively, 113th, according to the Human Development Report 2007/2008. The Human Development Index is a composite Index produced by the United Nations and is measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development - a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy at birth), knowledge (measured by adult literacy rate and gross enrolment ratio) and a decent standard living (measured by GDP per capita (PPP US). The basic dimensions in Moldova in the past 15 years developed variedly. The life expectancy at birth in this period rose by about one year and the adult literacy rate by approximately 2%, while the GDP per capita fell by 48% and the gross enrolment ratio by roughly 3%. Cumulatively, these changes had a negative effect on the HDI value. The most serious economic decline occurred in early 90s. Since 1995, the GDP per capita rose by about 30% and, as a result, the HDI also increased. The United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report is compiled every year on the basis of data offered by international statistical agencies. As a rule, there is a two-year lag as to the reference year and the publication year. The Report for 2007/2008 is compiled on the basis of 2005 data. Last year, Moldova was placed the 114th out of 177 countries and regions with a HDI of 0.694. The Human Development Report for 2006 was based on the 2004 data available when the report was being drawn up. Compared with the Report for this year, Moldova won three positions in the ranking and a value of 0.014. However, on the basis of the recent data provided by the international statistical agencies, the HDI for Moldova in 2004 should have been 0.703. So, Moldova would have ranked the 111th if the updates had been applicable and had been used in the previous report. Therefore, Moldova did not change its position in the ranking and the HDI value rose by 0.005 and not 0.014.