INSIDE GRENADA SATURDAY December 15,2007 by Wallace J.A According to the United Nation's annual human development index, Iceland gives its citizens the best chance of a prosperous and fulfilling life. Icelanders’ longevity has allowed the country to surpass Norway and claim the top spot on the list. The United Nations human development index ranks 177 countries around the world on measures of health, wealth and education. The United States of America, despite being a wealthy nation, dropped four places down the list to 12th place. The top 10 countries where there if high human development are Iceland, Norway, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Netherlands and France. The United Kingdom is ranked 16th. The highest ranked Caribbean country is Barbados which appears in the 31st position on the index. The Bahamas is ranked 49th, Cuba 51st, St. Kitts and Nevis 54th, Antigua and Barbuda 57th while Trinidad and Tobago is ranked 59th. Dominica heads the list of countries where there is Medium Human Development and is ranked 71st on the overall index. St. Lucia is ranked 72nd, the Dominican Republic 79th and Grenada 82nd. Grenada is positioned one notch under China which is ranked 81st on the index. St. Vincent is ranked 92nd, Guyana 97th and Jamaica 101st. The bottom 24 countries on the United Nations list are in sub-Saharan Africa where violence, poor governance and HIV/AIDS are deemed major contributing factors. Sierra Leone in Africa is ranked 177th on the index.