Belgium is the 10th best country in the world for mothers, according to a yearly table drawn up by Save the Children. Norway is the best country in the world to be a mother, and Somalia is the worst, the organisation says. The United States, in 33rd place, are far behind the Scandinavian countries, who have long dominated this table. It looks at 179 countries, and is based on a series of criteria, such as maternal health care, education, income level, and women’s status.

Finland, which got First place last year, is second this year. Australia, in 9th, is the only non-European country in the top ten. Canada is in second place, ahead of France (23rd) and the United Kingdom (24th).

The last ten are African countries. Among them are Sierra Leone (169th, equal with Haiti), the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nine of these ten countries are being affected by wars. The United States fell from 31st to 33rd place, behind Japan, Poland and Croatia.

Jason Bennett (Source: Belga)