DUSHANBE, April 10, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The Social Progress Index (SPI) rates Tajikistan last among Central Asia’s nations in terms of social progress.

Tajikistan was placed 95th out of the 132 nations, with Kazakhstan in 86th place, Uzbekistan 92nd and Kyrgyzstan 93rd.  SPI does not provide information about Turkmenistan.      

With its GDP per capita ratio amounting to little more than 1,900 USD, Tajikistan received 56.05 scores.  Tajikistan received quite high scores for basic education – 90.98, access to food and basic medical aid – 74.65, and access to basic human needs – 62.68.

Meanwhile, Tajikistan ranked worse on the level of personal security (58.37) and scored poorly on environmental sustainability (34.83).

New Zealand came first in a global index that ranks countries by social and environmental performance rather than economic output in a drive to make social progress a priority for politicians and businesses.

New Zealand received high scores for personal rights and freedom, internet access and school enrolment.  It was followed in the Top 10 by Switzerland, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Finland, Denmark and Australia.

Chad ranked last, below Central African Republic, Burundi, Guinea, Sudan, Angola, Niger, Yemen, Pakistan and Nigeria.

The Social Progress Index (SPI) rates 132 countries on more than 50 indicators, including health, sanitation, shelter, personal safety, access to information, sustainability, tolerance and inclusion and access to education.

The SPI asks questions such as whether a country can satisfy its people''s basic needs and whether it has the infrastructure and capacity to allow its citizens to improve the quality of their lives and reach their full potential.