(Israel Hayom) Judith Bergman - Israel was ranked 18th out of 188 countries and territories in the world on the UN 2015 Human Development Index. Between 1980 and 2014, Israel's life expectancy at birth increased by 8.3 years (from 74.1 years to 82.4 years), mean years of schooling increased from 9.8 years to 12.5 years, and expected years of schooling increased from 12.6 years to 16 years. Israel's GNI per capita increased by about 111.6% between 1980 and 2014 (from $14,498 to $30,676). There are several areas where Israel outdoes both the very high human development group as well as the OECD. Israel has the highest labor force participation rate (63.4% versus 60.3% in the very high human development group and 59.7% in the OECD). Israel also has a lower total unemployment rate (6.9% versus 8.3% and 8.2%). It has the lowest long-term total unemployment rate (0.8% versus 3% and 2.8%) and the lowest youth unemployment rate (10.5% vs. 18% and 16.5%). Israel also has a higher number of mobile phone subscribers per 100 people vs. the very high human development group and the OECD - 121 vs. 119.8 and 110.4. The truth is that building a modern and prosperous country takes time and Israel's development has been nothing less than miraculous in the 67 years since it was re-established as the modern State of Israel. We compare extremely well to other First World democracies, especially considering that the founding fathers and mothers of modern Israel had to pull themselves up from complete devastation and near annihilation a mere 70 years ago.
2015-12-31 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive