Social Development in Central Asian Countries: A Statistical Comparison

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Abstract

Fair distribution of resources among various parts of the society and attention to social development in terms of providing primary educational and health facilities will bring about lasting effects on the countries' development. This paper tries to study social structures in five Central Asian nations. To do this, growth in sectors like health, education and percentage of state expenditures in these sectors as well as gender equality are analyzed in a comparative manner. These countries' social development indicators are assessed in two sectors including health and education. In educational domain, such indicators as literacy, enrollment in elementary and secondary schools and gender equality in the society are evaluated. In health area, a comparison is made using such indicators as life expectancy, child mortality rate, access to sanitary water as well as access to health services.

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