WASHINGTON (CP) - It may be of some consolation to Canadians confronting bills for holiday overindulgence to know they're better off than most.
Figures released today by World Bank show that Canada remains one of the world's richest countries in terms of income per person, and one of the best places in which to be born and enjoy a long life.
According to the annual World Bank Atlas, Canada ranked 16th in the world based on average annual income per capita: a rough measure which takes a country's gross national product and divides it by population.
Income per capita in Canada in 1993 was $20,670 (all figures in U.S. dollars).
Switzerland was the richest nation at $36,410 per person, followed by Luxembourg ($35,850), Japan ($31,450), Denmark ($26,510), Norway ($26,340), Sweden ($24,830), the United States ($24,750), Iceland ($23,620), Germany ($23,560) and Kuwait ($23,350).
Canada came just behind the Netherlands ($20,710) and well ahead of Italy ($19,620).
The poorest country in the world was Mozambique where GNP per capita was $80.
Despite the long, cold winters, life expectancy in Canada was 78 years - twice as long as in the unhealthiest country, Guinea-Bissau in northwestern Africa, where life expectancy was 39.
Canadian life expectancy is second only to that of Japan, where experts believe low-fat diets help keep people going to 79. Life expectancy in the United States is 77.
Canada continued to enjoy a low infant mortality rate in 1993: an average of seven deathers per 1,000 live births. Japan, Singapore, Ireland and Sweden had lowest rates: five. The United States averaged nine infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
The worst coutnries for the very young: Afghanistan and Mozambique, where 162 out of 1,000 babies don't reach their first birthdays.
Information in the atlas is gleaned from World Bank files, national statistical offices and international agencies.
