China is still a fairly poor country but, by dint of its large population, it is already the world's second-largest economy measured in current dollars.

ECONOMIST: A game of catch-up

In contrast, Kenya scores well for education standards, although its system caters for only a small proportion of the population, but public institutions are deemed very poor, with the country's ranking dropping 17 places (to 117th) in the past year alone.

ECONOMIST: Outstripped

Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most sub-Saharan African nations, but because of high income inequality, a large proportion of the population remains poor.

FORBES: Gabon