Name ___________________________________________ Date ________________________

APGAP – McCleish
Country Comparison Chart

Directions: Complete the Country Comparison Chart by using the following websites:
 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ (Click on “Select a Country
or Location” and then scroll down to each of the countries you need information for.)
o Use this site to find the information on the front of the chart.
o Be sure to answer the questions about the indicators below the chart.
 http://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2013 (Scroll down and
click on “By Name”, then click on each of the countries you need information for.)
o Use this site to find Political Rights Score, Civil Liberties Score, and F.H. Status.
o NOTE: On the page following the questions is an explanation as to what each of
these numbers mean.
 http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries (Click on “Data by Country” on the right. Scroll down
to the map, then hover over each country to observe its HDI Score and Rank.
Alternatively, you can click on “+ Country List”, then click on each country.)
o Use the site to find each country’s HDI Score (“Value”) and Rank.
o NOTE: There is an explanation of the HDI after the questions.
 http://transparency.org/cpi (Click on “Results” at the top of the page, then hover over
each country to observe its CPI.)

START HERE:
Before beginning your research, answer the following questions to get an idea of your
preconceived notions about each of the following countries—China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria,
Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
1. Which of the above countries do you think has the highest life expectancy? Lowest?

2. Which of the above countries do you think has the highest literacy rate for women?
Lowest?

3. Which of the above countries do you think has the highest per capita GDP? Lowest?

4. Which of the above countries do you think has the highest percentage of population
below the poverty line? Lowest?

5. Which of the above countries do you think has the best record in terms of political rights
and civil liberties? Which do you think has the worst?

6. Which of the above countries do you think is the most corrupt? Least?
Questions to answer after completing the chart:
1. Is there any correlation between Population Below Poverty Line and Life Expectancy at
Birth? Explain.

a. If there is a correlation, do you think there is a cause for this correlation or do you
think it is just coincidence? What could the cause be? If there is no correlation,
why not? Explain.

2. Is there any correlation between literacy rate and infant mortality rate? Explain.

a. If there is a correlation, do you think there is a cause for this correlation or do you
think it is just coincidence? What could the cause be? If there is no correlation,
why not? Explain.

3. Is there any correlation between a country’s GDP per capita and GINI index?

a. If there is a correlation, do you think there is a cause for this correlation or do you
think it is just coincidence? What could the cause be? If there is no correlation,
why not? Explain.

4. Is there any correlation between a country’s political rights/civil liberties score and HDI?
Explain.

a. If there is a correlation, do you think there is a cause for this correlation or do you
think it is just coincidence? What could the cause be? If there is no correlation,
why not? Explain.
5. Is there any correlation between a country’s CPI and Population Below Poverty Line?

a. If there is a correlation, do you think there is a cause for this correlation or do you
think it is just coincidence? What could the cause be? If there is no correlation,
why not? Explain.

6. What effect does a country’s political rights/civil liberties score seem to have on its
economy? Do you think this is a simple correlation or do you think that this is causation?
Explain.

7. Which country has the lowest female literacy rate? Why do you think this is?

8. What effect does a country’s political rights/civil liberties score seem to have on its
citizen’s health? Do you think this is a simple correlation or do you think that this is
causation? Explain.

9. What seems to correlate with a country’s HDI? Why do you think this is?

10. What is the difference between correlation and causation? Why is this difference
important? Use a specific example.
General Characteristics of Each Political Rights and Civil Liberties Rating

Political Rights

Rating of 1 – Countries and territories that receive a rating of 1 for political rights
come closest to ensuring the freedoms embodied in the checklist questions,
beginning with free and fair elections. Those who are elected rule, there are
competitive parties or other political groupings, and the opposition plays an
important role and has actual power. Minority groups have reasonable self-
government or can participate in the government through informal consensus.

Rating of 2 – Countries and territories rated 2 in political rights are less free than
those rated 1. Such factors as political corruption, violence, political
discrimination against minorities, and foreign or military influence on politics may
be present and weaken the quality of freedom.

Ratings of 3, 4, 5 – The same conditions that undermine freedom in countries and

territories with a rating of 2 may also weaken political rights in those with a
rating of 3, 4, or 5. Other damaging elements can include civil war, heavy military
involvement in politics, lingering royal power, unfair elections, and one-party
dominance. However, states and territories in these categories may still enjoy
some elements of political rights, including the freedom to organize quasi-
political groups, reasonably free referenda, or other significant means of popular
influence on government.

Rating of 6 – Countries and territories with political rights rated 6 have systems
ruled by military juntas, one-party dictatorships, religious hierarchies, or
autocrats. These regimes may allow only a minimal manifestation of political
rights, such as some degree of representation or autonomy for minorities. A few
states are traditional monarchies that mitigate their relative lack of political
rights through the use of consultation with their subjects, tolerance of political
discussion, and acceptance of public petitions.

Rating of 7 – For countries and territories with a rating of 7, political rights are
absent or virtually nonexistent as a result of the extremely oppressive nature of
the regime or severe oppression in combination with civil war. States and
territories in this group may also be marked by extreme violence or warlord rule
that dominates political power in the absence of an authoritative, functioning
central government.

Civil Liberties

Rating of 1 – Countries and territories that receive a rating of 1 come closest to

ensuring the freedoms expressed in the civil liberties checklist, including freedom
of expression, assembly, association, education, and religion. They are
distinguished by an established and generally equitable system of rule of law.
Countries and territories with this rating enjoy free economic activity and tend to
strive for equality of opportunity.

Rating of 2 – States and territories with a rating of 2 have deficiencies in a few

aspects of civil liberties, but are still relatively free.
Ratings of 3, 4, 5 – Countries and territories that have received a rating of 3, 4, or
5 range from those that are in at least partial compliance with virtually all
checklist standards to those with a combination of high or medium scores for
some questions and low or very low scores on other questions. The level of
oppression increases at each successive rating level, including in the areas of
censorship, political terror, and the prevention of free association. There are also
many cases in which groups opposed to the state engage in political terror that
undermines other freedoms.

Rating of 6 – People in countries and territories with a rating of 6 experience

severely restricted rights of expression and association, and there are almost
always political prisoners and other manifestations of political terror. These
countries may be characterized by a few partial rights, such as some religious and
social freedoms, some highly restricted private business activity, and relatively
free private discussion.

Rating of 7 – States and territories with a rating of 7 have virtually no freedom.

An overwhelming and justified fear of repression characterizes these societies.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX (HDI):

The HDI – human development index – is a summary composite index that measures a country's
average achievements in three basic aspects of human development: health, knowledge, and a
decent standard of living. Health is measured by life expectancy at birth; knowledge is measured
by a combination of the adult literacy rate and the combined primary, secondary, and tertiary
gross enrolment ratio; and standard of living by GDP per capita (PPP US$).