How do I read the bar charts for the individual indicators?

A longer line to the right always means "more good than average".

A longer line to the left always means "less good than average".

It doesn't matter whether the indicator is positive or negative. So if the indicator in question is a negative one (such as CO2 emissions or weapons exports) a bar to the right means lower emissions or fewer weapons exports, while a bar to the left means higher emissions or more weapons exports.

If the indicator is a positive one (such as UN volunteers abroad or food aid) then a bar to the right means more volunteers or aid; a bar to the left means less of either.

No bar in either direction means that country ranks exactly average for that indicator.

A grey centre line on its own means no data is available for that country on that indicator.


For a complete list of the 35 indicators, see here.