That index ranks countries based on life expectancy, educational attainment and standard of living.

Another cluster ranked countries whose land is more than 50 percent desert, including Israel and much of the Arab world.

Whereas there are over a 1000 more deaths for the lowest ranked countries.

Generated annually since 2003, the index ranks countries based on how their foreign aid, trade, migration, investment, environment, security and technology policies encourage global development.

It is used to rank countries into different groups for example developed and developing countries.

The study ranked countries in terms of disparity on the income scale.

It is claimed to be the first study to rank countries around the world according to their peacefulness.

The study ranks countries on the rights and freedoms they offer women.

The report ranks countries by quality of life, based largely on life expectancy, education and personal incomes.

A popular approach has been to rank countries according to the amount of annual water resources available per person.