Global Research Editor’s Note
There is a lot of media disinformation regarding Libya. “The international community to the rescue”. “NATO bombings to protect civilians.” Historically, the revenues of the oil economy have been channelled towards building the country’s social infrastructure.
We bring to the attention of our readers, the summary of the UNDP Human Development Report pertaining to Libya.
The development indicators for Libya are the highest in Africa.
There is no unemployment. Life expectancy is of the order of 74.4 years, comparable to levels prevailing in the advanced industrial countries. Under 5 mortality is of the order of 17 o/ooo.
It should be noted that some of these accomplishments have been eroded since the mid-2000s as a result of agreements reached with the IMF.
The “humanitarian war” on Libya has already destroyed part of the country’s social infrastructure including hospitals.
The objective of the bombings is to destabilize and destroy a country, take possession of its oil wealth and impoverish its population.
Michel Chossudovsky, April 5, 2011
To access the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya page of the UNDP Human Development Report click here
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Health
Life expectancy at birth (years) 74.5
Prevalence of undernourishment in total population (% of population) <5
Expenditure on health, public (% of GDP) 1.9
Under-five mortality (per 1,000 live births) 17
Life expectancy at birth (years) 74.5
Education
Education Mean years of schooling (of adults) (years) 7.3
Adult literacy rate (both sexes) (% aged 15 and above) 88.3 1
Combined gross enrolment ratio in education (both sexes) (%) 95.8 1 2
Expenditure on education (% of GDP) (%) 3.4
Internet users (per100 people) 5.1
Mean years of schooling (of adults) (years) 7.3
Expected Years of schooling (of children) (years) 16.5 1
Income
Income GNI per capita (2008 PPP US$) LN 9.7
Indicator Value Notes
GDP per capita (2008 PPP US$) 16,999 1
GNI per capita (2008 PPP US$) LN 9.7
Household final consumption expenditure per capita PPP (constant 2005 international $) n.a.
Inequality Inequality-adjusted HDI value n.a.
Indicator Value Notes
Income Gini coefficient n.a.
Inequality-adjusted education index n.a.
Inequality-adjusted income index n.a.
Inequality-adjusted HDI value n.a.
Inequality-adjusted life expectancy n.a.
Poverty Multidimensional poverty index (k greater than or equal to 3) n.a.
Multidimensional poverty index (k greater than or equal to 3) n.a.
Intensity of deprivation n.a.
MPI: Headcount ( k greater than or equal to 3), population in poverty (% of population) n.a.
Population living below $1.25 PPP per day (%) n.a.
Gender Gender Inequality Index, value 0.504
Maternal mortality ratio (deaths of women per100,000 live births) 97 1
Population with at least secondary education, female/male ratio 1.264
Adolescent fertility rate (women aged 15-19 years) (births per 1,000 women aged 15-19) 3.2
Labour force participation rate, female/male ratio (Ratio of female to male shares) n.a.
Gender Inequality Index, value 0.504 1
Shares in parliament, female-male ratio 0.083
Maternal mortality ratio (new estimates) (deaths of women per100,000 live births) 64
Gender Inequality Index (updated) 0.476
Sustainability Adjusted net savings (% of GNI) n.a.
Carbon dioxide emissions per capita (tonnes) 9.2
Protected area (percentage of terrestrial area) 0.1
Adjusted net savings (% of GNI) n.a.
Human Security Refugees by country of origin (thousands) 2.1
Refugees by country of origin (thousands) 2.1 1
Unemployment rate, total (%) (% of labour force) n.a.
Homicide rate (per 100,000) 2.2 1
Robbery rate (per 100,000) n.a.
Population affected by natural disasters (average per year, per million) (average per year per million people) n.a.
Composite indices HDI value 0.755
Indicator Value Notes
Multidimensional poverty index (k greater than or equal to 3) n.a.
HDI value 0.755
Gender Inequality Index, value 0.504 1
Inequality-adjusted HDI value n.a.
Human Development Index Rank 53
The Human Development Index – going beyond income
Each year since 1990 the Human Development Report has published the Human Development Index (HDI) which was introduced as an alternative to conventional measures of national development, such as level of income and the rate of economic growth. The HDI represents a push for a broader definition of well-being and provides a composite measure of three basic dimensions of human development: health, education and income. Libyan Arab Jamahiriya’s HDI is 0.755, which gives the country a rank of 53 out of 169 countries with comparable data. The HDI of Arab States as a region increased from 0.398 in 1980 to 0.590 today, placing Libyan Arab Jamahiriya above the regional average. The HDI trends tell an important story both at the national and regional level and highlight the very large gaps in well-being and life chances that continue to divide our interconnected world. Learn more
