Assignment1_DE.docx

7/27/2019 Assignment1_DE.docx

1/8

Comparison of Development Indicators

of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

Assignment 1

Group Members

MOHAMMAD IBAD DESMUKH

SYED WAQAR HASSAN

Submitted to Sir Salman Ahmed Sheikh


2/8

Comparison of Development Indicators of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

2

IntroductionThe purpose of this report is to highlight the similarities as well as the differences in the

development indicators of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Furthermore, we have tried to

elucidate the reasons behind some of the anomalies and interesting observations behind

the trends of the given data.

1.Fertility Rate, total (births per woman)

It can be observed that the fertility rate in Sri Lanka is on an increasing trend while the

fertility rate for Bangladesh is on a decreasing trend, both colluding in 2011 at around

(2%), with Sri Lanka having a higher rate (2.28%) than Bangladesh (2.20%). The mainfactors behind the overall decreasing trend for Bangladesh could be the increase in

awareness and education (as evidenced by the increase in means years of schooling)

and the literacy rates.

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Sri Lanka Bangladesh


3/8


3

2.Life expectancy at birth, total (years)

Life expectancy in both countries has shown a similar trend over the given time period.

There is an increasing trend starting from the year 2000. This gradual increase can be

attributed to better socioeconomic conditions, increasing child survival and infectious

disease controls prevalent in both countries. Life expectancy is an important factor in

calculating the HDI. Increases in life expectancies in both countries show a

corresponding increase in the HDIs for each country for the respective years.

3.Improved water source (% of population with access)

Sri Lanka is working towards achieving its millennium development goal on water and

sanitation by targeting 85% of the population with safe drinking water and for

sanitation purposes. Sri Lanka surpassed Bangladesh in 2001 with reference to % of

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011



4/8


4

population with access to water. It shows that the government in Sri Lanka has put in a

better effort to provide its population with this basic necessity.

4.Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population)

Bangladesh has done a better job at controlling prevalent undernourishment in the

country than Sri Lanka. After an increase seen in the years 1992-1994 there is a

significant decrease in the statistic values. This is one of the factors causing an increase

in life expectancy values shown for corresponding years in a graph above.

5.HDI Index

Overall, Sri Lanka ranks higher on the HDI index (0.6) as compared to Bangladesh (0.4)

which means that it is has a higher life expectancy, education and income level on

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011


0.000

0.100

0.200

0.300

0.400

0.500

0.600

0.700

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010



5/8


5

average. This can be attributed to the availability of better health facilities and a strong

emphasis on educational policies in Sri Lanka. However, in 2010, Sri Lanka is seen to

have a higher poverty head count (85.54) and undernourishment prevalence (24) as

compared to Bangladesh, which highlights the fact that HDI does not capture all

dimensions of development for Sri Lanka.

6.Population Growth Rate (%)

Population growth rates for Bangladesh show a steady decrease over the given time

period. Rates of Sri Lanka are seen to be erratic. The biggest drops in this rate are seen

to be from 1999 to 2001 and from 2011 to 2012. This could be attributed to a negative,

net migration rate consistently from 1998 to 2007 as well as the decline in birth rates as a

result of awareness about birth control methods. The biggest increase in these rates is

seen to be between 2001 and 2003.

-3.00

-2.00

-1.00

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2

000

2001

2

002

2003

2

004

2005

2

006

2007

2

008

2

009

2010

2011

2012



6/8


6

7.Mean Years of Schooling (adults aged 25 years and above)

The mean years of schooling in both countries has shown a similar trend (i.e. increase)

in the last decade. Statistics show that there is greater emphasis on education in Sri

Lanka as compared to Bangladesh as the numbers are almost double for every year.

Education is one of the factors used to determine the HDI. The increases in mean years

of schooling are reflected in the increases in the HDI for the respective years.

8.Poverty headcount ratio at $2 a day (PPP) (% of population)

The higher poverty headcount ratio (85.54) for Sri Lanka reinforces the notion that even

with the better health and education incentives provided by the government, a large

chunk of the population is living well below its means. Bangladesh in comparison, has a

higher employment ratio (51%) which shows that even with relatively lower emphasis

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

9.00

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1996 2010



7/8


7

on education and health, a larger proportion of the population has access to job

opportunities as well as a better standard of living.

9.Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%)

The employment to population ratio for both countries has on an overall basis, not

changed by a large factor. However, an interesting observation is that even with a lower

HDI Index and Mean years of schooling statistic, Bangladesh has always had better job

opportunities for its youth. One major reason of this could be the growth of industries

in Bangladesh which utilize unskilled labor on a much larger scale than in Sri Lanka.

10. Child Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011


0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22



8/8


8

The child mortality rate in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is on a decreasing trend over the

years. However, one point of difference is that it has always been higher for Bangladesh

than for Sri Lanka. This could be attributed to the disparities between wealthy and poor

households as well as lack of access to basic health services which could have resulted

in the prevention of many child deaths. This is reflected in the lower HDI index for

Bangladesh as well as the life expectancy (at birth).

Assignment1_DE.docx

Documents

Transcript of Assignment1_DE.docx