Global Infrastructure is the collective term for the facilities, buildings and structures required for society to function.
Benefits of Improved Infrastructure
Logistical Infrastructure Interactive Map
Hygienic Sanitation – Infrastructure
Drinking Water – Infrastructure
Communications – Infrastructure
Global Infrastructure Interactive Map
What is Infrastructure?
Infrastructure is the collective term for the facilities, buildings and structures required for society to function. This is a large list and includes roads, airports, railway lines, sanitation, power, communications, etc. It is a good indicator of the ‘health’ of a nation – i.e. the better the infrastructure the better equipped a country is to grow financially and improve the lives of its citizens.
Benefits of Improved Infrastructure
Despite the huge cost of creating good infrastructure the benefits gained generally out way the initial investment.
Good infrastructure not only improves trade within the country but can be an incentive for foreign trade and increased tourism.
Good infrastructure also improves the lives of its citizens allowing for improved job opportunities not only in their construction and maintenance but also in the improved ability to commute for work. A strong infrastructure also allows better access to facilities such as hospitals, schools etc, providing a better quality of life. A country with good infrastructure gives its all its citizens improved life chances and allows widespread residential settlements making more use of the land.
Types of Infrastructure
Infrastructure can be group into different categories such as transportation, power, water + sanitation and communication.
- Transportation or Logistical Infrastructure
- Power
- Sanitation
- Drinking Water
- Communication
Transportation or Logistical Infrastructure
Transportation is probably the biggest and most costly task of improving a countries infrastructure but probably has the biggest effect on that nation’s financial growth. The creation of transportation networks requires the productions of roads, railways, ports, airports and everything they require such as bridges, tunnels etc.
Global Infrastructure – Logistics Performance Index Interactive Map
A successful transportation network improves the logistics of business. The World Bank recently produced the ‘Logistic Performance Index’ rating the logistical performance of 160 countries. To create this index they used data from many indicators including a rating of the national transportation infrastructure. It is this data which we have used in the global infrastructure interactive map and each nation is given a score (0 being the lowest and 5 would be outstanding transport infrastructure). We’ve added the global ranking in brackets.
Power Infrastructure
Nation-wide access to power such as electricity is a good indicator of a countries infrastructure. Power is required not only for business but also a requirement for modern living.
Hygienic Sanitation – Infrastructure
Access to hygienic sanitation is an important part of infrastructure required to prevent the creation and spread of disease and to keep the population healthy.
Drinking Water – Infrastructure
Access to hygienic drinking water is an important part of infrastructure required to prevent the creation and spread of disease and to keep the population healthy.
Communications – Infrastructure
Access to a modern communication network has dramatic effect on a nation’s financial growth. Access to modern types of communication, such as the internet, can greatly improve the financial prospects of its population even if their transport infrastructure is poor (although all forms of infrastructure are important for a modern productive society).
Global Infrastructure Interactive Map
Improved water source, rural (% of rural population with access)
Access to an improved water source refers to the percentage of the population using an improved drinking water source. The improved drinking water source includes piped water on premises (piped household water connection located inside the user’s dwelling, plot or yard), and other improved drinking water sources (public taps or standpipes, tube wells or boreholes, protected dug wells, protected springs, and rainwater collection).
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme ( JMP ) for Water Supply and Sanitation ( wssinfo.org ).
Improved water source, urban (% of urban population with access)
Access to an improved water source refers to the percentage of the population using an improved drinking water source. The improved drinking water source includes piped water on premises (piped household water connection located inside the user’s dwelling, plot or yard), and other improved drinking water sources (public taps or standpipes, tube wells or boreholes, protected dug wells, protected springs, and rainwater collection).
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme ( JMP ) for Water Supply and Sanitation ( wssinfo.org ).
Improved sanitation facilities (% of population with access)
Access to improved sanitation facilities refers to the percentage of the population using improved sanitation facilities. Improved sanitation facilities are likely to ensure hygienic separation of human excreta from human contact. They include flush/pour flush (to piped sewer system, septic tank, pit latrine), ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine, pit latrine with slab, and composting toilet.
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply and Sanitation (http://www.wssinfo.org/).
Internet users (per 100 people)
Internet users are individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 12 months. Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc.
International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates.
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Access to electricity (% of population)
Access to electricity is the percentage of population with access to electricity. Electrification data are collected from industry, national surveys and international sources.
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