Biggest gaps in Europe between neighbouring countries in terms of Human Development Index 2021

[Tooting Carmen]

https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/...gin=BROWSELINK

(1) Norway-Russia 0.139
(2) Finland-Russia 0.118
(3) Greece-North Macedonia 0.117
(4) Poland-Ukraine 0.103
(5) Greece-Bulgaria 0.092
(6) Greece-Albania 0.091
(7) Turkey-Armenia (some count both as part of Europe) 0.079
(8) Croatia-Bosnia 0.078
(9) Russia-Azerbaijan (some count the latter as part of Europe) 0.077
(10) Slovakia-Ukraine 0.075
(11) Hungary-Ukraine 0.073
(12) Slovenia-Hungary 0.072
(13) Austria-Hungary 0.070
(14) Poland-Belarus 0.069
(15) Estonia-Russia/Lithuania-Belarus/Austria-Slovakia 0.068
(18) Switzerland-Italy 0.067
(19) Germany-Poland 0.066
(20) Slovenia-Croatia 0.060

[Your Old Comrade]

It shows how far Eastern European GDP per capita and HDI is, compared to Western Europe. The closer to the West, the wealthier the countries are.

[Tooting Carmen]

It shows how far Eastern European GDP per capita and HDI is, compared to Western Europe. The closer to the West, the wealthier the countries are.

The gap has shrunk considerably though. Neighbouring pairs like Germany-Czechia and Austria-Czechia don't even feature on the list, while Germany-Poland is only 19th and Slovenia now ranks slightly higher than Austria!

[Your Old Comrade]

The gap has shrunk considerably though. Neighbouring pairs like Germany-Czechia and Austria-Czechia don't even feature on the list, while Germany-Poland is only 19th and Slovenia now ranks slightly higher than Austria!

That's true. But Czechia was always considerably more industrialised and up-to-date (almost Western level) compared to the rest of Central and Eastern Europe.

[Tooting Carmen]

That's true. But Czechia was always considerably more industrialised and up-to-date (almost Western level) compared to the rest of Central and Eastern Europe.

On the other hand, the gap between Russia and its Nordic neighbours is still pretty formidable, as well as that between Greece and its Balkan neighbours.

[cass]

It shows how far Eastern European GDP per capita and HDI is, compared to Western Europe. The closer to the West, the wealthier the countries are.

Portugal is the westernmost country and does not follow this rule.

[cass]

On the other hand, the gap between Russia and its Nordic neighbours is still pretty formidable, as well as that between Greece and its Balkan neighbours.

Even Romania overtook Greece in terms of real GDP per capita 3 years ago.

[Tooting Carmen]

Even Romania overtook Greece in terms of real GDP per capita a year ago

Romania has been rapidly improving in recent years. But what about Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Albania?

[Tooting Carmen]

Portugal is the westernmost country and does not follow this rule.

Portugal is an exceptional case for Western Europe, and even its GNI per capita is $33,000, which is still higher than most Eastern Euro nations (and Greece). Where Portugal scores especially badly is in education.

[cass]

Romania has been rapidly improving in recent years. But what about Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Albania?

In the case of Bulgaria, it probably surpassed Greece this year