Ranking the status of and wellbeing of mothers in 106 countries, a leading child development organisation has cited a clear link between the health, literacy and economic opportunity of mothers and the fate of the world's children.

The report, which was partially financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, compares countries on the basis of a mother's access to medical care, maternal mortality rates, use of contraceptives, literacy and participation in government. Norway was ranked the highest of all the countries, followed closely by Canada, Australia, Switzerland and the United States.