Slovenia’s GDP per capita, while the highest in Central and Eastern Europe, still lags behind its western peers. And yet some country rankings place the Alpine nation close to the top.
Country comparisons are useful tools that highlight strengths and weaknesses – in particular if we combine various surveys. The oldest measure used to compare the relative success of nations is GDP per capita. According to the IMF figures Slovenia ranks 33rd among 192 nations with the highest figure in the region of Central and Eastern Europe.
To shift focus from a strictly financial viewpoint to more “people centred policies”, the United Nations uses the Human Development Index (HDI). In this comparison Slovenia features exceptionally well. In the inequality adjusted version of HDI Slovenia ranks 8th, ahead of Germany and Sweden.
Similar comparisons that put emphasis on different aspects of quality of life and environment also show the Alpine nation in a favourable light. Slovenia is seen as peaceful and sustainable. Its contribution to global development is above average. The Good Country Index “measures what each country on earth contributes to the common good of humanity, and what it takes away, relative to its size”. Slovenia takes 17th place overall, 10th in the sub ranking on culture, and 4th in the category of “planet and environment”.
And its weaknesses? The ones most often pointed to are red tape, taxes, and government policies. It ranks only 46th on the IMD’s World Competitiveness list and is in 43rd place according to the Index of Economic Freedom. Slovenians may live well but there’s hardly any room for complacency.