BCI Trends by Region, 1990, 2000 & 2011

Graphic: Social Watch

By region, the trend also reflects the global slowdown in terms of increases in the BCI level. 

There is only marginal change in BCI level for Europe and North America in the last 20 years. For the regions of Latin America and the Caribbean, East Asia and the Pacific, and the Middle East and North Africa, the trend shows a significant slowing down of progress in BCI during the period 2000 to 2011 compared to the previous decade. 

On a positive note, the regions of Central Asia, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa registered slightly higher increments in BCI levels in the period of 2000-2011 compared to the previous decade. Despite the higher momentum for the poorer countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, it must be noted that this two regions have the lowest BCI recorded. Both these regions started from very low levels, and they need to accelerate even more if they are to reach average basic levels in the next decade. South Asia is progressing faster than Sub-Saharan Africa.