The 2005 UNDP Human Development Report is out and this year the news is good for Belize.
Belize now ranks 91 out of 177 countries, that is up from 99th place last year. UNDP attributes the upgrade to increased school enrollment. Belize lands between Jordan and Fiji, among countries with medium human development.
For comparison, Belize is outranked by countries such as Brazil, Grenada, and Venezuela; while we are ahead of Jamaica, Guyana, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Countries are ranked based on the Human Development Index which includes life expectancy, GDP, and the literacy rate. Belize's ranking is based on data from 2003.
In case you are wondering, Norway is at the top of the list and Niger is at the bottom. The United States is ranked at no. 10 and Cuba is at no. 52.
