| Country or area | 1975 | 1996 | Direction of change 1975 to 1996 or most recent year | |
| Asia | ||||
| Eastern Asia | ||||
| Chinaa | 29.1 | 26.3 | - | |
| Hong Konga | 28.9 | 29.5 | + | |
| Japana | 27.4 | 29.3 | + | |
| Macaub | 29.0 | 29.0 | 0 | |
| Rep. of Koreaa | 28.4 | 27.9 | - | |
| South-eastern Asia | ||||
| Singaporec | 28.3 | 29.8 | + | |
| Western Asia | ||||
| Armeniac | 26.8 | 24.8 | - | |
| Cyprus | 27.2 | 28.1 | + | |
| Georgiad | 26.9 | 25.1 | - | |
| Europe | ||||
| Eastern Europe | ||||
| Belarusc | 26.9 | 24.9 | - | |
| Bulgaria | 24.5 | 24.3 | - | |
| Czech Republic | 25.1 | 26.1 | + | |
| Hungary | 25.3 | 26.5 | + | |
| Poland | 26.8 | 27.0 | + | |
| Rep. of Moldovae | 27.4 | 24.8 | - | |
| Romania | 26.0 | 25.2 | - | |
| Russian Federatione | 26.4 | 24.8 | - | |
| Slovakia | 25.9 | 25.9 | 0 | |
| Ukrainec | 26.1 | 24.4 | - | |
| Northern Europe | ||||
| Denmarkc | 26.4 | 29.2 | + | |
| Estonia | 26.2 | 25.9 | - | |
| Finland | 27.0 | 29.4 | + | |
| Iceland | 27.0 | 28.8 | + | |
| Ireland | 29.7 | 30.3 | + | |
| Latvia | 26.7 | 26.0 | - | |
| Lithuania | 27.4 | 25.8 | - | |
| Norway | 26.4 | 28.9 | + | |
| Sweden | 26.7 | 29.4 | + | |
| United Kingdom | 26.5 | 28.3 | + | |
| Southern Europe | ||||
| Bosnia and Herzegovinaf | 27.0 | 26.0 | - | |
| Croatiac | 25.7 | 27.2 | + | |
| Greece | 27.1 | 28.2 | + | |
| Italya | 27.6 | 29.6 | + | |
| Malta | 28.3 | 29.0 | + | |
| Portugal | 28.3 | 28.2 | - | |
| Slovenia | 25.8 | 27.4 | + | |
| Spainc | 28.8 | 29.7 | + | |
| Yugoslaviac | 26.2 | 26.7 | + | |
| Western Europe | ||||
| Austria | 26.3 | 27.8 | + | |
| Belgiumc | 27.1 | 28.5 | + | |
| Francea | 27.2 | 29.3 | + | |
| German Dem. Rep.c | 25.8 | 27.0 | + | |
| Germany, Fed. Rep. ofc | 27.3 | 29.1 | + | |
| Germanyg | 28.2 | 28.8 | + | |
| Luxembourg | 27.1 | 29.2 | + | |
| Netherlands | 27.9 | 30.6 | + | |
| Switzerland | 28.0 | 30.0 | + | |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | ||||
| Caribbean | ||||
| Bahamasd | 27.3 | 27.5 | + | |
| Barbadosh | 26.6 | 26.8 | + | |
| Cubai | 24.6 | 25.3 | + | |
| Martiniquej | 28.5 | 28.6 | + | |
| Trinidad and Tobagok | 27.4 | 27.2 | - | |
| Northern America | ||||
| Canadak | 26.7 | 28.0 | + | |
| United States of Americaa | 25.8 | 26.6 | + | |
| Oceania | ||||
| Australiaa | 26.7 | 28.8 | + | |
| New Zealandc | 26.2 | 28.4 | + | |
Source: Computed from table 8.
aRefers to the period 1975-1994.
bRefers to the period 1981-1995.
cRefers to the period 1975-1995.
dRefers to the period 1975-1992.
eRefers to the period 1974/75-1995.
f Refers to the period 1975-1990.
gRefers to the period 1990-1995.
hRefers to the period 1976-1988.
iRefers to the period 1980-1991.
jRefers to the period 1974-1992.
kRefers to the period 1975-1993
Note: A minus sign (-) indicates a decline; a plus sign (+) indicates an increase; zero (0) indicates no change.