Global Youth Development Index 2020

 Key Facts

• The index measures the status of young people among 181 countries across the world.
• Singapore was ranked at the top for the first time.
• It is followed by Slovenia, Norway, Malta and Denmark.
• Bottom countries in the index include- Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Niger.
• Index highlights that, condition of young people has improved worldwide by 3.1 percent in between 2010 and 2018. However, the progress remained slow.
• In the index, 156 countries recorded at least slight improvements in their scores.
• Report also highlights the positive trajectory of youth development pre-pandemic time, which covid-19 virus could reverse if urgent action is not taken to secure the gain.
• Top five improvers include- India, Afghanistan, Russia, Ethiopia, and Burkina Faso. They advanced their score on an average by 15.74 per cent.
• Countries like Libya, Syria, Ukraine, Jordan and Lebanon witnessed greatest decline in youth development in between 2010 and 2018.

How this index ranks countries?

• The Global Youth Development index ranks countries between the score of 0.00 (lowest) and 1.00 (highest) on the basis of developments in youth with respect to education, health, employment, equality & inclusion, political & civic participation, peace and security.
• It provides score on the basis of 27 indicators, including literacy and voting, to showcase the state of 1.8 billion people across the world aged between 15 and 29.