Deloitte Anjin LLC of Korea on Sept. 15 announced the 2020 Social Progress Index released by the Social Progress Imperative. Korea this year ranked 17th on the list of most livable countries among 163 nations surveyed.

By Xu Aiying and Lee Jihae
Photos = Social Progressive Imperative homepage

Korea this year ranks as the 17th most livable country among 163 surveyed, up from 23rd last year. The finish is the nations' highest since the survey was expanded after 2014 to more than 100 countries.

Deloitte Anjin LLC in Seoul on Sept. 15 announced the 2020 Social Progress released by the U.S.-based nonprofit organization Social Progress Imperative, saying Korea earned a score of 89.06 out of 100.

The index is the sum of the scores in three categories: basic human needs including nutrition and basic medical care, water and sanitation, shelter and personal safety; foundations of wellbeing such as access to basic knowledge and information and communications, health and wellness, and environmental quality; and opportunity such as personal rights, freedom and choice, inclusiveness and access to advanced education.

The study does not consider economic factors such as the rate of GDP growth.

Korea placed seventh in basic human needs for the second straight year with a score of 96.92. In foundations for wellbeing, the country jumped eight spots to 17th with 90.12 and finished 22nd in opportunity with 80.13.

Norway topped the index for the third consecutive year with 92.73, followed by Denmark (92.11), Finland (91.89), New Zealand (91.64), Sweden (91.62), Switzerland (91.42), Canada (91.40), Australia (91.29), Iceland (91.09) and the Netherlands (91.06). 

In Asia, Japan ranked 13th and China 100th.

Country rankings of 2020 Social Progress Index