UN Human Development Index ranks Montenegro 51st out of 187 countries

Podgorica, Montenegro (11 September 2014) -- Montenegro has a high level of human development and out of 187 countries, according to Human Development Index (HDI), it is ranked 51st, the United Nations' global report reads. The report says that Montenegro with its 51st position has recorded the highest value of HDI in the region.

Human Development Report 2014 provides an overview of HDI values and rankings for 187 countries and UN-recognised territories, while countries are grouped in four categories: very high, high, medium and low human development.

When it comes to the Western Balkans region, countries that fall into the group of high human development are Serbia (77th place), FYR Macedonia (84th), Bosnia and Herzegovina (86th) and Albania (95th), while countries with very high human development are Slovenia (25th) and Croatia (47th). 

The report ranks Slovenia 25th, and Croatia 47th, and classifies them in the category of countries with very high human development.

Overall, the region comes second in the Human Development Index (HDI) rankings among developing regions, behind Latin America and the Caribbean. It surpasses world averages in life expectancy and mean years of schooling, but trails slightly in gross national income per capita.

The report analyses life cycle vulnerabilities and identifies moments in life (e.g., early childhood, old age) in which shocks can have greater impact. It also explores structural vulnerabilities – those that persist and compound over time as a result of discrimination and institutional failings to the disadvantage of groups such as ethnic minorities, the disabled and the long-term unemployed. Because of its geography, the region is also vulnerable to natural disasters. A large scale natural disaster in or near a major population centre could result in a humanitarian disaster, damage to regional infrastructure, significant refugee flows, and increased strain on often limited state capacity and social cohesion.