Democracy Watch, 2012 - Issue 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 17, 2012 -- At the beginning of 2010 the People First Foundation published a report on Ukraine’s standing within the family of nations using comparative data prepared by Ukrainian and international experts and reputable international organizations. This data ranked Ukraine’s performance across a wide spectrum of indicators. This year we have repeated the research in-order to measure the governments overall performance in improving the living standards, financial stability and reputation of Ukraine during 2011.

All of the information in this report has been taken from verifiable open sources, the references to which are detailed at the end of the report. The research was carried out in the last week of December 2011 in order to make it as accurate and comparable with the 2010 as possible.

Indicators:

↑ Situation improved compared with 2010

↔ No significant change compared to 2010

↓ Situation worsened compared with 2010

HIV / AIDS
Ukraine holds first place in Europe by both prevalence and growth rate of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. 1.63% of the Ukrainian population aged between 15 and 49 is HIV-positive. Total number of HIV-positive people in Ukraine is over 360 thousand .

According to UNAIDS data, the growth rate of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is around 0.3% for 2011. Only 25 thousand people out of over 360 thousand infected get the necessary treatment. Experts illustrate that every 24 hours or so a group of people the size of a football team dies of AIDS in Ukraine .

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Life expectancy
Ukraine has the worst life expectancy in Europe after Russia (overall life expectancy is 67.9 years) ranking 123rd out of 194 countries next to Maldives, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and North Korea .

According to UN data, Ukraine is one of nine countries (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and six African countries) where life expectancy is still lower than it was in 1970s . Overall life expectancy has risen slightly from 2010 to 68.5 years meaning Ukraine currently holds a position between Georgia and Mauritius .
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Mortality

According to UN data (2005-2010) the mortality rate in Ukraine is the worst in Europe: 17th place worldwide next to Somalia, Russia and Burundi .

The mortality rate in Ukraine is 15.2 per 1000 people whilst in EU countries it is an average of 6.7 per 1000. Ukrainians on average live 10 years less than citizens of EU and many CIS countries .
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Charity
Ukraine and Serbia share 150th place of 153 countries in the World Giving Index published by British Charities Aid Foundation. Ukraine's neighbours in this rating are Burundi and Madagascar .

According to World Giving Index 2011 Ukraine rose from 150th to 105th place, moving up 46 places with the following indicators: giving money 11% (5% last year), 30% volunteering time (14%) and 37% helping a stranger (19%) .
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Corruption
The worst level of corruption in Europe (together with Russia). Other neighbours sharing 146th place in the rating are Cameroon, Ecuador, Kenya, Russia, Sierra-Leone, Timor-Leste and Zimbabwe .

Ukraine has fallen to 152nd place (6 places down) in the Corruption Perception Index 2011; next to Tajikistan, Republic of Congo, Kenya and Zimbabwe, which is a sign that corruption in Ukraine has worsened. Russia has improved its ranking to 143rd place .
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Economic freedom

Last place in Europe and 162nd place in the world rating of 179 countries, next to Togo (161st) and Liberia (163rd) .
According to the latest Index of Economic Freedom, Ukraine stands 164th of 183 countries, i.e. 2 places lower than 2010 and the worst of 43 countries in Europe .
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Human rights violation
Ukraine had the highest number of complaints to the European Court of Human Rights per 10,000 people. Next closest were Russia and Turkey .

Ukraine held 5th place by the number of complaints to the European Court of Human Rights per 10,000 people . In recent years ECHR has affirmed about 100 decisions against Ukraine per year .
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GDP per capita

By nominal GDP per capita Ukraine is the third worst country in Europe (according to IMF and WB data) after Georgia and Moldova .
Ukraine continues to be one of the poorest countries in Europe by nominal GDP per capita: $3000. Other countries that are close to Ukraine are Moldova, Kosovo, Serbia and Bulgaria .
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Wealth
According to Global Wealth Report 2010 released by Swiss bank Credit Suisse, Ukraine holds the next to last position among 40 European countries surpassing only Moldova. Average property of a Ukrainian citizen is estimated at $2,700, only $200 more than in Moldova. Average wealth level per citizen in Poland is $28,600, Romania – $12,400, Russia – over $10,000 .

According to Global Wealth Report 2011 Ukraine is now last in Europe. Average property of a Ukrainian citizen is estimated to be $3,384 while in Russia it is $10,911 per citizen, in Romania – $17,599, in Poland – $27,410 whilst Moldova takes Ukraine’s former position with $3,481 .
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Debts
Ukraine is the second biggest debtor to IMF after Romania with $12 bln. of debt . It also holds 10th position in the list of biggest debtors to the World Bank with $3.22 bln. of debt together with India, China, Turkey and Mexico .

Gross Ukrainian national debt has grown by 7.5% between January and September 2011. Total state (direct) and guaranteed debt has grown by 7.5% up to $58,385 bln.
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Conditions for business

Ukraine ranks 98th in the Best Countries for Business rating compiled by Forbes, between Russia and Senegal; the worst in Europe except for Bosnia and Herzegovina .

In the 2011 Forbes rating, Ukraine ranks 105th of 134 countries, which means that it has lost 7 places in a year. Ukraine is ranked between Cambodia and Yemen whilst Russia is 102nd. The rating takes into account a range of indicators, such as property rights, innovation, tax burden, corruption, trade freedom, red tape, investor protection etc .
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Traffic accident mortality

Ukraine has one of the highest traffic accident mortality rates in Europe. 13-20 people die on Ukrainian roads every day . 13% of all deaths that happen in traffic accidents in Europe happen in Ukraine .

About 5,000 people died and 40,000 were severely injured in traffic accidents in Ukraine over the course of 2011. On average 14 people die on the roads every day. Ukraine stands 4th in Europe by the number of traffic accidents. According to World Bank data road accidents cost Ukrainian economy over $5 bln. every year .
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Poverty

12.5 mln. Ukrainians are officially below the poverty line. An average Ukrainian lives on $105 per month ($3.38 per day). According to World Bank data 26.4% of Ukrainians live in real poverty, which is the same as in Moldova, a little better than in Armenia (28.7%) and much worse than in Georgia (18%) and Russia (13.6%). Poverty rate in Ukraine is 11% higher than the European average .

The number of poor people who struggle to make enough to cover food costs has increased from 12.5% in the beginning of 2008 to 13.8% in October 2011. The number of those who make enough money for food and essentials has increased from 34% to 41%. Poverty in Ukraine has a female face, since 62% of the people who struggle to feed themselves are women. 50% of mendicants and 29% of the poor are people of pensionable age (60 years or more) .
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Investment climate

Ukraine holds 40th place of 45 countries by the total amount of foreign direct investment per capita (World Bank data, 2009) between Armenia and Albania .

According to World Bank and International Finance Corporation data, Ukraine has lost 7 places in 2011 and now is 152nd of 183 countries. Among the countries that rank higher are: Poland (62nd), Kazakhstan (47th), Belarus (69th), Kyrgyzstan (70th), Moldova (81st) and Russian Federation (120th) .
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Small and medium business
European Commission data states that Ukraine, at 16%, has one of the lowest contributions of SMEs to GDP. It ranks 34th of 44 countries, between Russia and Armenia .

In the first half of 2011 over 100 thousand enterprises have stopped functioning and the number of those wanting to start their own business has reduced by almost two thirds . The contribution of SMEs to Ukrainian economy is now 13% .

Democracy Watch     People First Fondation     Victor tkachuk