9781422283899

that the first two scores would have been quite low, and Vietnam’s would have been in the moderate low category. Singapore and Taiwan also lack scores, which would likely have been high. The entire region has fairly strong scores in the category of Health and Wellness, and Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world. Japan also scores high in Personal Rights. On the other hand, repressive regimes in China, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) give those nations very low scores in Personal Rights. Mongolia has high scores in Opportunity, especially in Personal Rights. New Zealand and Australia stand out in all areas, with some of the highest social progress scores in the world.

Vietnamese military mine sweepers scan for unexploded ordnance left over from the Vietnam War during a US government−funded program. In the four decades since the war ended, an estimated 42,000 people have been killed or injured by mines and other explosives.

13

S OCIAL P ROGRESS IN E AST A SIA AND THE P ACIFIC