World Bank Document

Technical NotesTable 1. Basic Indicators particular currency and generally the number of years newbornassures greater comparability of children would live if subject toThe estimates of population for the estimates of GNP per capita the mortality risks prevailing formid-1978 are primarily from the among countries. the cross-section of population atUN Population Division. In some The GNP per capita figure of the time of their birth. Data arecases the UN population data were $230 reported for China is based from the UN Population Division,adjusted by using more recent data on the official estimate of "net supplemented by World Bankfrom the World Bank and the US material product" released by the estimates.Bureau of the Census. Govemment, plus an allowance for The index of food production perThe data on area are from the depreciation and for services not capita shows the average annualUN Demographic Yearbook, 1977. covered by that concept. These quantity of food produced perGross national product (GNP) data were received only recently, capita in 1976-78 in relation tomeasures the total domestic and and analysis to assure that the data that in 1969-71. The estimatesforeign output claimed by resi- are reasonably comparable to those were derived from those of thedents of a country., It comprises of other countries has not yet been Food and Agriculture Organizagrossdomestic product (see the possible. tion (FAO), which are calculatedtechnical notes for Table 2) and The average annual rate of inflation by dividing indices of the quantityfactor incomes (such as investment was calculated from the "implicit of food production by indices ofreceipts and workers' remittances) gross domestic product (GDP) total population. Food is consideredaccruing to residents from abroad, deflator," which is calculated by to comprise cereals, starchy roots,less the income earned in the dividing, for each year of the period, sugar cane, sugar beet, pulses,domestic economy accruing to the value of GDP in current market edible oils, nuts, fruits, vegetables,persons abroad. It is calculated prices by the value of GDP in livestock and livestock products.without making deductions for constant market prices, both in Quantities of food production aredepreciation. national currency. This measure measured net of animal feed,The GNP per capita figures were of inflation has limitations, seeds for use in agriculture, andcalculated according to the World especially for the oil-producing food lost in processing and dis-Bank Atlas method: GNP in national countries in the light of the sharp tribution.currency units was expressed first increase in oil prices in late 1973. The country-group averages inin weighted-average prices for the The adult literacy rate is the per- this table are weighted by countrybase period 1976-78, converted centage of persons aged 15 and population.into dollars at the GNP-weighted over who can read and write. These The accompanying table showsaverage exchange rate for this rates are based primarily on infor- basic indicators for 29 countriesperiod, and adjusted for US infla- mation from the UN Educational, that have a population of less thantion. The resulting estimate of GNP Scientific and Cultural Organiza- a million and are members of thewas then divided by the population tion (UNESCO), supplemented United Nations, the World Bank,in mid-1978. This method reduces by World Bank data. For some or both.the effect of temporary underval- countries the estimates are foruations or overvaluations of a years other than, but generally not Tables 2 and 3. Growth andmore than two years distant from, Structure of Production1. GNP figures generally are for 1978. those specified. Thus the series areExceptions are Iran, for which 1977 estimates not strictly comparable for all Most of the definitions used are thoseare the most recent, and Democratic Kam- countries. of the UN System of National Accounts.puchea and Lebanon, for which 1974 estimatesare the most recent. Life expectancy at birth indicates Gross domestic product (GDP)158