Environmental Researches

Environmental Researches

Ranking Iran for Sustainable Society Index and Its Trend Using TOPSIS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Golestan, Iran
2 PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Golestan, Iran
10.22034/eiap.2025.229956
Abstract
Sustainable society index (SSI) includes 22 indicators covering human wellbeing, economic wellbeing and environmental wellbeing of 153 countries. Using SSI data for the years 2006 to 2016 in TOPSIS with sensitivity analysis, rank of Iran and six selected countries were calculated and compared. The calculations were implemented in the developed Python software package PYSIS with easy interface. Results showed that in the year’s 2006 and 2016 Iran ranked 5th compared to the selected countries whereas in the year 2010 Iran enjoyed the second rank. During the study period Iran suffered a general downward trend in terms of SSI. Sensitivity analysis using 50% change in weights of the 22 indicators and 100,000 iterations in the PYSIS software indicated relative stability of the results and reliability of the data. The PYSIS software showed its capability for the required calculations including sensitivity analyses. It seems that for the studied period decrease or increase in the rank of Iran for SSI were mainly related to the indicators sufficient food, income distribution and public debt. Hence, the government and relevant bodies can focus on these selected indicators for increasing the SSI rank of the country.
 
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