| Human
development index (HDI) |
|
Life expectancy at birth (years)
68.2
Adult literacy rate (% age
15 and above) 93.4
Combined primary, secondary
and
tertiary (%) gross enrollment ratio 67.0
GDP per capita (PPP$) $1,996
GDP per capita (PPP US$) rank
minus HDI rank
(marks the difference between national income
ranking and human development ranking) 19
|
Vietnam was removed from the U.N. Conference on Trade
and Development (UNCTAD) list of least developed countries
(LDC) this month.
This move marks a recognition of Vietnam’s success
in its socio-economic and human development. To be
removed from the list, a country generally needs an
annual gross domestic product per capita of slightly
in excess of $1,000. Vietnam averages only $440, but
UNCTAD recognized that all indices on quality of life
and economic stability were positive in Vietnam. Moreover,
the purchase power parity (real purchasing power equivalent
when average consumer purchases are compared across
economies) of the Vietnamese average income approached
$2,000.
The original list of LDCs was 49, but 10 have been
able to move off the list.
According to the U.N. Development Program UNDP, Vietnam
tops many much richer – including Western –
countries in access to health care and literacy and
has made great strides in poverty reduction. Over
the last decade, Vietnam has reduced the percentage
of families living below the official poverty level
to less than 30%, from an initial 70% rate. |
