S. Korea ranked 50th in 'best country' for mothers index

SEOUL, May 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea ranked 50th among 158 nations in terms of
its mothers' quality of life, an international survey said Thursday, a day before
the nation celebrates Parents' Day.
According to the report, "State of the World's Mothers 2009," compiled by the
Save the Children, South Korea dropped one notch from last year to 50th place in
this year's study.
The organization has been conducting the survey annually since 2000, based on
health care, economic status, mortality rate for infants and mothers during
childbirth, and women's average life span, education and social participation.
The survey divides the countries into three groups -- developed, developing, and
least-developed. South Korea was categorized as a developing country, said Jin
Mo-yeon, a spokeswoman from the group's Seoul office.
Among developing nations, South Korea was placed seventh among the 75 surveyed,
Jin said.
South Korean women's mortality rate during childbirth was one in 6,100, and women
represented 14 percent of the country's government officials. On average, South
Korean women live until 82 years old and receive education for 15 years.
The infant mortality rate for children aged five and below was five in 1,000.
"We included four more countries in the developing country category, but South
Korea climbed up one spot (in that category) from the previous year," Jin said.
"It seems South Korea has not lost noticeable points in the analysis indicators."
The country's neighbor, Japan, categorized as a developed nation, placed 34th,
while China, classified as a developing country, ranked 57th.
Sweden was ranked the world's best place for mothers for the third year in a row,
followed by Norway and Australia. African countries Niger, Sierra Leone and Chad
were named in the bottom three.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)