The Institute of Competitiveness released the annual 2022 Social Progress Index (SPI), which was published by Social Progress Imperative. India secured the 110th global rank among tier 4 countries with a score of 60.19.
- Norway tops the index with a score of 90.74 among tier-1 countries i.e. high income countries.
- Among tier 2 countries, Spain tops with a score of 85.35, and the global rank is 21st.
- Among tier 3 countries, Russia topped with a score of 71.99 and global rank ranked 59th.
- In Tier 4, Ghana tops the list with a score of 64.80 at 98th position, while Côte d’Ivoire tops tier 5 with 54.01 and 127th rank; And Tier 6 Niger tops the 159th global rank with a score of 43.14.
Valuation:
The index used 12 components and 60 indicators to measure the social performance of 169 countries fully and an additional 27 countries in part.
What’s in the SPI?
Social Progress Imperative has produced an annual global SPI since 2013. It helps us understand how people around the world are living, who is being left behind and how to accelerate progress.
- It is the only measurement tool focusing exclusively broadly and systematically on the non-economic dimensions of social performance worldwide with transparent and actionable data.
Table showing global toppers in the 2022 Social Progress Index:
South Sudan is at the bottom of the 169th position with a score of 30.65.
Key points:
According to the index, the world has improved but only 0.37 points compared to 2021, while 52 countries (31%) have seen a decline in social progress.
ii. The decline is due to the retreat of individual rights around the world, the impact of COVID-19, the dangers of climate change, economic unrest and widespread political change.
iii. The world is heading towards “Social Progress Recession” for the first time in 2023.
iv. There has been a significant decline in the world score on individual rights (-5.34 points) since 2011.
India tops 2022 SPI: Puducherry tops
The SPI for States and Districts created by the Institute for Competitiveness and Social Progress Imperative 2022 was submitted to the Economic Advisory Council-Prime Minister (EAC-PM).
- It was written by Dr. Amit Kapoor, Honorary Chairman, Institute for Competitiveness, India, Lecturer, Stanford University; and Michael Green, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Social Progress Imperative.
- It was released by Bibek Debroy, Chairman, EAC-PM on December 20, 2022 in New Delhi, Delhi in the presence of the above mentioned authors.
About the 2022 SPI for states and districts:
It is a tool to measure the country’s social progress on national and sub-national tiers. It assessed 36 states/UTs and 707 districts. The framework includes 89 indicators at the state level and 49 at the district level.
- The index assesses states and districts based on three dimensions of social progress – basic human needs, wellbeing base and 12 components of opportunity.
India’s score in 3 dimensions:
Basic Human Needs: It assesses the performance of states and districts in terms of nutrition and basic medical care, water and sanitation, personal safety and shelter.
- Number- 73.80
ii. Foundations of well-being: It evaluates the progress made by the country in the components of access to basic knowledge, access to information and communication, health and well-being and environmental quality.
- Number- 52
iii. Opportunity: It focuses on individual rights, individual freedom and choice, inclusivity and access to advanced education.
- Number- 54.77
Ranking of states and districts of India
Based on the SPI score, states and districts are ranked under 6 tiers of social progress, which is shown in the following table:
Key points:
Puducherry got the highest SPI score of 65.99 due to remarkable performance in components such as personal freedom and choice, shelter and water and sanitation.
ii. India has made significant economic progress in the last decade. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita has increased by over 39.7% from 2011-12 to 2020-21 (RBI).