Malaysia is ranked 51 out of 168 countries in the recently released Social Progress Index 2021. In comparison, Malaysia was ranked 48 out of 163 countries in 2020, says Deloitte in a media release today.
The 2021 Social Progress Index (Index), compiled by the Social Progress Imperative – a United States-based non-profit – with the support of Deloitte, ranks 168 countries’ social performance since 2011 based on 53 social and environmental outcome indicators.
For the first time, the Social Progress Index specifically examines the relationship between sustainability and social progress.
Commenting on the results of the 2021 index and sustainability report, Global Board Chair of Deloitte, Sharon Thorne says, “The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating inequalities. From the growing education gap to health disparities, we have seen how the world’s most vulnerable populations are bearing the brunt of many of the world’s crises, including the climate crisis.
“The 2021 Social Progress Index demonstrates that sustainability and social progress are interrelated. Although different countries are at different places on their sustainability journeys, we all must work together—both governments and business—so that we can face this global issue head-on while also focusing on social, health, and economic outcomes over time.”
This year, Malaysia is the second-highest-ranking Southeast Asia country, behind Singapore (30). The country is ahead of its regional counterparts Thailand (71), Indonesia (94), Vietnam (78), the Philippines (97), Cambodia (128), Myanmar (117), and Laos (145).
In its 2021 findings, Malaysia scored 90 points and above for Nutrition and Basic Medical Care (91.33), Water and Sanitation (90.29), and Shelter (91.84).
Health and Wellness (67.64) showed the most improvement, with a rise in score from last year’s 66.69. Another area that Malaysia has improved on is Nutrition and Basic Medical Care (91.33), with a rise of (+0.22).
Some areas that Malaysia can work on include Personal Rights (66.22) and Access to Advanced Education (61.26), which dipped from last year’s 69.46 and 65.97 points respectively.
Malaysia’s performance in its scorecard is relative to 15 countries of similar GDP per capita: Croatia, Turkey, Russia, Oman, Romania, Trinidad and Tobago, Kazakhstan, Greece, Latvia, Chile, Panama, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Uruguay.
Meanwhile, according to the 2021 Social Progress Index and a new report on greenhouse gas emissions and development. The report, published by the Social Progress Imperative, a US-based non-profit, highlights what it would take to get the world to a sustainable level of emissions in 2030.
The findings highlight that if every country achieved emissions levels comparable with the most sustainable country at a similar level of development, the world would reduce the amount of greenhouse gas per capita by 4.58 tonnes and achieve a sustainable level of emissions.
