Central Asia Mostly Ranks "Medium" on UN Human Development Index

Uzbekistan is rated fairly low on an international survey again -- this time the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI).

Uzbekistan is ranked at 102 in the "Medium Human Development" category, out of 169 countries of the world. It has improved since last year, when it was at 119.

Russia ranks at 65, which puts it in the "High Human Development" category.

Kazakhstan is at 66 also in the "High" list; Turkmenistan at 87; Kyrgyzstan at 109; and Tajikistan at 112 are all in the "Medium" list; and Afghanistan at 155, is in the "Low" list.

This index is based on information that the UN gets from the governments of the countries where it has a presence. While the HDI report tries in all sorts of ways to compensate for skewed data to try to relay the real picture of poverty and the gap between the rich and poor, it relies on the official reports from governments known to have no accountability or transparency -- so the numbers may be not be reliable.

According to the HDI, in Uzbekistan, life expectancy is at 68, there is a maternal mortality ratio of 24 deaths per 100,000 and a per capita income of $3,084 a year.

By contrast, Turkmenistan, has a life expectancy of 65, a maternal mortality of 130, and per capita income of $7,052. That suggests the gas revenues aren't going into health care investment.

In general, the Central Asia region has worsened its HDI due to inequality of income and gender.

Norway occupies first place and Zimbabwe holds last place in the HDI.