Norway

Norway ranks number 1 as the best place in the world to be a mom.

The joy of motherhood is a universal emotion no matter where you are in the world. However, the conditions in which women raise their children vary from country to country. As part of the 2012 State of the World’s Mothers report, Save the Children has released their 13th annual Mothers’ Index.

Of the 165 countries surveyed, Norway, Iceland and Sweden top the rankings this year. The top 10 countries, in general, attain very high scores for mother and child health, educational attainment and economic status. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Niger ranks last. The 10 bottom-ranked countries — eight from sub-Saharan Africa -– are a reverse image of the top 10, performing poorly on all indicators. The United States places 25th this year –- up six spots from last year.

Each country page will include a fact that supports the country’s ranking. Please refer to the Appendix of the main report for all the detailed rankings.

As you view this slide show of the top 30 places to be a mom, keep in mind that no matter where you are in the world, mothers everywhere should be given the basic tools they need to break the cycle of poverty and improve the quality of life for themselves, their children, and for generations to come.

30. Japan: Female life expectancy at birth is 87 years
29. Croatia: Under 5 mortality rate is 6 in 1,000
28. Poland: The lifetime rate of maternal death is 1 in 13,300
27. Austria: The gross secondary education enrollment ratio is 100%
26. Czech Republic: The under 5 mortality rate is 4 in 1,000
25. The United States: The lifetime rate of maternal death is 1 in 2,100
24. Belarus: Percent of seats in national government held by women: 32%
23. Lithuania: Gross secondary education enrollment ratio: 98%
22. Hungary: Lifetime rate of maternal death: 1 in 3,500
21. Italy: Lifetime rate of maternal death: 1 in 15,200
20. Greece: Lifetime rate of maternal death: 1 in 31,800
19. Canada: Canada gives 52 weeks of maternity leave to new mothers
18. Switzerland: Gross pre-primary enrollment ratio: 102%
17. Estonia: Estonia’s under 5 mortality rate is 5 in 1,000
16. Spain: Gross pre-primary education enrollment ratio is 126%
15. Portugal: Gross secondary education enrollment ratio: 107%
14. France: France’s female life expectancy at birth is 85 years.
13. Slovenia: Expected number of years of formal female schooling: 18
12. Germany: Lifetime rate of maternal death: 1 in 11,100
11. United Kingdom: The UK Gives 52 weeks of maternity leave to new mothers
10. The Netherlands: Percentage of seats in national government held by women: 39%
9. Ireland: Expected number of years of formal female schooling: 19
8. Belgium: Percentage of seats in national government held by women: 39%
7. Australia: Expected number of years of formal female schooling: 20
6. Finland: Percentage of seats in national government held by women: 43%
5. Denmark: Lifetime rate of maternal death: 1 in 10,900
4. New Zealand: Expected number of years of formal female schooling: 20
3. Sweden: Percentage of seats in national government held by women: 45%
2. Iceland: Ranks #1 in the Children’s Index (out of 44 countries)
1. Norway ranks among the very best (top 5) countries in all indicators including female education, political representation, and the second lowest under-5 mortality rate. It offers one of the most generous maternity leave policies in the developed world. The extreme contrast between top-ranked country, Norway, and the lowest-ranked country, Niger is shown in a number of indicators. In Norway, nearly 40 percent of parliamentary seats are held by women compared to Niger’s 13 percent. A Norwegian girl can expect to receive 18 years of formal education and will live to be over 83 years old. In Niger, a typical girl receives only 4 years of education and lives to only 56. Every mother in Niger is likely to suffer the loss of a child. 1 child in 7 dies before his or her fifth birthday.

Via Huffington Post