Bhutan ranks 155 in the human Development Index, says the Human Development Report 1997, released by the United Nations Development Programme in mid-June. The report shows the extent, severity and complexity of global poverty and proposes a feasible and affordable strategy to eradicate it. On a "human poverty index of 78 countries', which evaluates variables like vulnerability to early death, illiteracy, and access to health services, safe water and adequate food, Bhutan is ranked 62.