Slovenia and Norway have been declared the best countries for children to live in, according to Save the Children, which issued its first ever End of Childhood Index, measuring worldwide youth health and well-being. The report identifies eight factors that effectively ruin childhood across the globe: poor diet, lack of schooling, infant death, child marriage, child labor, teen pregnancy and regional conflict. Based on reports from global organizations, the countries are judged on each factor, then the average determines the global ranking.
A family stop to take in the view of Lake Bohinj. (photo: Tomo Jesenicnik)
The top ten countries in the report are all from Europe, except South Korea, which is ranked 10th together with Germany, Belgium and Cyprus.
The bottom countries on the list, Mali, Angola and Niger, along with a few other Central African countries, are where childhood is most highly threatened.
Out of 172 countries, the USA came in at only 36, well behind most of Europe. Perhaps the new US first lady Melania Trump should skip the move to Washington and move her son Barron to her native Slovenia.
The Ana Desetnica international street theatre festival in Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana. (photo: Dunja Wedam)
Grass mowing at the Matk tourist farm. (photo: Jost Gantar)
A family lunch. (photo: Jost Gantar)
