List of countries by Human Development Index

Last updated

World map representing Human Development Index categories (based on 2022 data, published in 2024)
.mw-parser-output figure[typeof="mw:File/Thumb"] .image-key>ol{margin-left:1.3em;margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output figure[typeof="mw:File/Thumb"] .image-key>ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output figure[typeof="mw:File/Thumb"] .image-key li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}@media(min-width:300px){.mw-parser-output figure[typeof="mw:File/Thumb"] .image-key,.mw-parser-output figure[typeof="mw:File/Thumb"] .image-key-wide{column-count:2}.mw-parser-output figure[typeof="mw:File/Thumb"] .image-key-narrow{column-count:1}}@media(min-width:450px){.mw-parser-output figure[typeof="mw:File/Thumb"] .image-key-wide{column-count:3}}
.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}
.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
Very high (>= 0.800)
High (0.700-0.799)
Medium (0.550-0.699)
Low (<= 0.549)
Data unavailable HDI2022map.svg
World map representing Human Development Index categories (based on 2022 data, published in 2024)
  •   Very high (≥ 0.800)
  •   High (0.700–0.799)
  •   Medium (0.550–0.699)
  •   Low (≤ 0.549)
  •   Data unavailable
World map of countries or territories by Human Development Index scores in increments of 0.050 (based on 2022 data, published in 2024)
>= 0.950
0.900-0.950
0.850-0.899
0.800-0.849
0.750-0.799
0.700-0.749
0.650-0.699
0.600-0.649
0.550-0.599
0.500-0.549
0.450-0.499
0.400-0.449
<= 0.399
Data unavailable HDI2022Incrimental.svg
World map of countries or territories by Human Development Index scores in increments of 0.050 (based on 2022 data, published in 2024)
  •   ≥ 0.950
  •   0.900–0.950
  •   0.850–0.899
  •   0.800–0.849
  •   0.750–0.799
  •   0.700–0.749
  •   0.650–0.699
  •   0.600–0.649
  •   0.550–0.599
  •   0.500–0.549
  •   0.450–0.499
  •   0.400–0.449
  •   ≤ 0.399
  •   Data unavailable

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) compiles the Human Development Index (HDI) of 193 nations in the annual Human Development Report. The index considers the health, education, income and living conditions in a given country to provide a measure of human development which is comparable between countries and over time. [1] [2]

Contents

The HDI is the most widely used indicator of human development and has changed how people view the concept. [3] [4] However, several aspects of the index have received criticism. Some scholars have criticized how the factors are weighed, in particular how an additional year of life expectancy is valued differently between countries; [4] [5] and the limited factors it considers, noting the omission of factors such as the levels of distributional and gender inequality. [6] In response to the former, the UNDP introduced the inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) in its 2010 report, and in response to the latter the Gender Development Index (GDI) was introduced in the 1995 report. [7] [8] Others have criticized the perceived oversimplification of using a single number per country. [9] [10]

To reflect developmental differences within countries, a subnational HDI (SHDI) featuring data for more than 1,600 regions was introduced in 2018 by the Global Data Lab at Radboud University in the Netherlands. [10] In 2020, the UNDP introduced another index, the planetary pressures–adjusted Human Development Index (PHDI), which decreases the scores of countries with a higher ecological footprint. [11]

Dimensions and indicators

The HDI was first published in 1990 with the goal of being a more comprehensive measure of human development than purely economic measures such as gross domestic product. The index incorporates three dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, knowledge, and decent living standards. Various indicators are used to quantify how countries perform on each dimension. The indicators used in the 2022 report were life expectancy at birth; expected years of schooling for children; mean years of schooling for adults; and gross national income per capita. The indicators are used to create a health index, an education index and an income index, each with a value between 0 and 1. The geometric mean of the three indices—that is, the cube root of the product of the indices—is the human development index. A value above 0.800 is classified as very high, between 0.700 and 0.799 as high, 0.550 to 0.699 as medium, and below 0.550 as low. [1] [12] [13]

The data used to calculate HDI comes mostly from United Nations agencies and international institutions, such as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Rarely, when one of the indicators is missing, cross-country regression models are used. Due to improved data and methodology updates, HDI values are not comparable across human development reports; instead, each report recalculates the HDI for some previous years. [13] [14]

Average annual HDI growth from 2010 to 2021 published in 2022
>= 1.4%
1.2%...1.4%
1%...1.2%
0.8%...1%
0.6%...0.8%
0.4%...0.6%
0.2%...0.4%
0%...0.2%
-0.5%...0%
-1%...-0.5%
< -1%
No data Average annual HDI growth from 2010 to 2021 published in 2022.png
Average annual HDI growth from 2010 to 2021 published in 2022
  •   ≥ 1.4%
  •   1.2%…1.4%
  •   1%…1.2%
  •   0.8%…1%
  •   0.6%…0.8%
  •   0.4%…0.6%
  •   0.2%…0.4%
  •   0%…0.2%
  •   −0.5%…0%
  •   −1%…−0.5%
  •   < −1%
  •   No data
HDI dimensions and indicators [15]
DimensionsIndicatorsDimension index
Long and healthy lifeLife expectancy at birthLife expectancy index
KnowledgeExpected years of schooling
Mean years of schooling
Education index
A decent standard of livingGNI per capita (PPP $)GNI index

List

Average annual HDI growth from 2010 to 2021 published in 2022
>= 1.4%
1.2%...1.4%
1%...1.2%
0.8%...1%
0.6%...0.8%
0.4%...0.6%
0.2%...0.4%
0%...0.2%
-0.5%...0%
-1%...-0.5%
< -1%
No data Average annual HDI growth from 2010 to 2021 published in 2022.png
Average annual HDI growth from 2010 to 2021 published in 2022
  •   ≥ 1.4%
  •   1.2%…1.4%
  •   1%…1.2%
  •   0.8%…1%
  •   0.6%…0.8%
  •   0.4%…0.6%
  •   0.2%…0.4%
  •   0%…0.2%
  •   −0.5%…0%
  •   −1%…−0.5%
  •   < −1%
  •   No data

The Human Development Report includes data for all 193 member states of the United Nations, [16] as well as Hong Kong SAR and the State of Palestine. However, the Human Development Index is not calculated for two UN member states: DPR Korea (North Korea) and Monaco, only some components of the index are calculated for these two countries. The Cook Islands, the Holy See (Vatican City), and Niue are the only three state parties within the United Nations System which are not included in the report. [17] In total, the HDI is available for 192 countries and one territory. [2]

Countries ranked from 1 to 69 in 2022 are designated "very high" HDI; those ranked from 70 to 115 are designated "high" HDI; those ranked from 116 to 159 are denoted "medium" HDI; and those ranked from 160 to 193 are designated "low" HDI.

Data are for the year 2022. [18]

Regions and groups

The Human Development Report also reports the HDI for various groups of countries. These include regional groupings based on the UNDP regional classifications, [19] HDI groups including the countries currently falling into a given HDI bracket, OECD members and various other UN groupings. [20] The aggregate HDI values are calculated in the same way as for individual countries with the input data being the weighted average for all countries with available data in the group. [21]

Table of regions and groups by HDI [22]
Region or group199020002010202020212022
OECD 0.7950.8400.8750.8970.8990.906
Very high human development0.7840.8260.8680.8950.8960.902
Europe and Central Asia 0.6640.6810.7460.7930.7960.802
East Asia and the Pacific 0.5070.5920.6840.7480.7490.766
High human development0.5570.6250.7000.7530.7540.764
Latin America and the Caribbean 0.6330.6890.7330.7550.7540.763
World0.6010.6450.6970.7350.7320.739
Small Island Developing States 0.6010.6490.6930.7320.7300.730
Arab states 0.5550.6180.6760.7080.7080.704
Developing countries 0.5130.5690.6380.6870.6850.694
South Asia 0.4420.5000.5760.6380.6320.641
Medium human development0.4530.5060.5820.6420.6360.640
Sub-Saharan Africa 0.4070.4300.5030.5490.5470.549
Least developed countries 0.3570.4080.4870.5420.5400.542
Low human development0.3560.3990.4770.5190.5180.517

See also

Notes

  1. HDI not available before 2011 in latest report
  2. HDI not available before 2022 in latest report
  3. HDI not available before 2022 in latest report

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Bhutan</span>

The economy of Bhutan is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 60% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult. Bhutan is among the richest by gross domestic product (nominal) per capita in South Asia, at $3,491 as of 2022, but it still places 153rd, and among the poorest in the world. The total gross domestic product is only $2,653 million, and 178th according to IMF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Chad</span>

The economy of Chad suffers from the landlocked country's geographic remoteness, drought, lack of infrastructure, and political turmoil. About 85% of the population depends on agriculture, including livestock herding. Of Africa's Francophone countries, Chad benefited least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies in January 1994. Financial aid from the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and other sources is directed mainly at improving agriculture, especially livestock production. Because of a lack of financing, the development of oil fields near Doba, originally due to finish in 2000, was delayed until 2003. It was finally developed and is now operated by ExxonMobil. Regarding gross domestic product, Chad ranks 147th globally with $11.051 billion as of 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Maldives</span>

In ancient times, Maldives were renowned for cowries, coir rope, dried tuna fish, ambergris (maavaharu) and coco de mer (tavakkaashi). Local and foreign trading ships used to load these products in the Maldives and bring them abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines</span>

The economy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is heavily dependent on agriculture, being the world's leading producer of arrowroot and grows other exotic fruit, vegetables and root crops. Bananas alone account for upwards of 60% of the work force and 50% of merchandise exports in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Such reliance on a single crop makes the economy vulnerable to external factors. St. Vincent's banana growers benefited from preferential access to the European market. In view of the European Union's announced phase-out of this preferred access, economic diversification is a priority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Developed country</span> Country with a developed industry and infrastructure

A developed country, or high-income country, is a sovereign state that has a high quality of life, developed economy, and advanced technological infrastructure relative to other less industrialized nations. Most commonly, the criteria for evaluating the degree of economic development are the gross domestic product (GDP), gross national product (GNP), the per capita income, level of industrialization, amount of widespread infrastructure and general standard of living. Which criteria are to be used and which countries can be classified as being developed are subjects of debate. Different definitions of developed countries are provided by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank; moreover, HDI ranking is used to reflect the composite index of life expectancy, education, and income per capita. Another commonly used measure of a developed country is the threshold of GDP (PPP) per capita of at least US$22,000. In 2023, 40 countries fit all four criteria, while an additional 15 countries fit three out of four.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human Development Index</span> Composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and income indices

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistical composite index of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators, which is used to rank countries into four tiers of human development. A country scores a higher level of HDI when the lifespan is higher, the education level is higher, and the gross national income GNI (PPP) per capita is higher. It was developed by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul-Haq and was further used to measure a country's development by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s Human Development Report Office.

The Human Poverty Index (HPI) was an indication of the poverty of community in a country, developed by the United Nations to complement the Human Development Index (HDI) and was first reported as part of the Human Development Report in 1997. It is developed by United Nations Development Program which also publishes indexes like HDI It was considered to better reflect the extent of deprivation in deprived countries compared to the HDI. In 2010, it was supplanted by the UN's Multidimensional Poverty Index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human Development Report</span> Annual report by the Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme

The Human Development Report (HDR) is an annual Human Development Index report published by the Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Human development involves studies of the human condition with its core being the capability approach. The inequality adjusted Human Development Index is used as a way of measuring actual progress in human development by the United Nations. It is an alternative approach to a single focus on economic growth, and focused more on social justice, as a way of understanding progress

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multidimensional Poverty Index</span> Range of poverty indicators

Multidimensional Poverty Indices use a range of indicators to calculate a summary poverty figure for a given population, in which a larger figure indicates a higher level of poverty. This figure considers both the proportion of the population that is deemed poor, and the 'breadth' of poverty experienced by these 'poor' households, following the Alkire & Foster 'counting method'. The method was developed following increased criticism of monetary and consumption based poverty measures, seeking to capture the deprivations in non-monetary factors that contribute towards well-being. While there is a standard set of indicators, dimensions, cutoffs and thresholds used for a 'Global MPI', the method is flexible and there are many examples of poverty studies that modify it to best suit their environment. The methodology has been mainly, but not exclusively, applied to developing countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gender Inequality Index</span> United Nations index for gender inequality

The Gender Inequality Index (GII) is an index for the measurement of gender disparity that was introduced in the 2010 Human Development Report 20th anniversary edition by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). According to the UNDP, this index is a composite measure to quantify the loss of achievement within a country due to gender inequality. It uses three dimensions to measure opportunity cost: reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation. The new index was introduced as an experimental measure to remedy the shortcomings of the previous indicators, the Gender Development Index (GDI) and the Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM), both of which were introduced in the 1995 Human Development Report.

References

  1. 1 2 "Human Development Index (HDI) | Human Development Reports". hdr.undp.org. United Nations Development Programme. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  2. 1 2 Rank and index on pages 272-276. Change in rank and percentage growth on pages 277-280. Human Development Report 2021-22: Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives: Shaping our Future in a Transforming World (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 8 September 2022. pp. 272–280. ISBN   978-9-211-26451-7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  3. Ivanova, I.; Arcelus, F. J.; Srinivasan, G. (February 1999). "An Assessment of the Measurement Properties of the Human Development Index". Social Indicators Research. 46 (2): 157–179. doi:10.1023/A:1006839208067. ISSN   0303-8300. JSTOR   27522364. S2CID   142628010. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  4. 1 2 Sanderson, Warren; Scherbov, Sergei; Simone, Ghislandi (8 November 2018). "The best country to live in might not be Norway after all". Quartz. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  5. Ravallion, Martin (1 November 2012). "Troubling tradeoffs in the Human Development Index" (PDF). Journal of Development Economics. 99 (2): 201–209. doi:10.1016/j.jdeveco.2012.01.003. ISSN   0304-3878.
  6. Sharma, Shalendra D. (1 February 1997). "Making the Human Development Index (HDI) gender-sensitive" . Gender & Development. 5 (1): 60–61. doi:10.1080/741922304. ISSN   1355-2074. PMID   12320744. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  7. Human Development Report 2010 (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 2010. p. 87. ISBN   978-0-230-28445-6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 July 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  8. Human development report 1995 (PDF). Oxford University Press for the United Nations Development Programme. 1995. pp. 72–74. ISBN   0-19-510023-9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  9. Castles, Ian (1998). "The Mismeasure of Nations: A Review Essay". Population and Development Review. 24 (4): 834–836. doi:10.2307/2808029. ISSN   0098-7921. JSTOR   2808029. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  10. 1 2 Iñaki, Permanyer; Jeroen, Smits (31 May 2018). "The Subnational Human Development Index: Moving beyond country-level averages". United Nations Development Programme. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  11. Human Development Report 2020 The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 15 December 2020. pp. 291–231. ISBN   978-9-211-26442-5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  12. Human Development Report 1990 (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 1 May 1990. pp. iii, iv, 5, 9, 12. ISBN   0-1950-6481-X. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  13. 1 2 "Human Development Report 2019 – Technical notes" (PDF). hdr.undp.org. United Nations Development Programme. pp. 2–4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  14. "Human Development Report 2020: Reader's Guide". hdr.undp.org. United Nations Development Programme. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  15. "Human Development Index (HDI)". UNDP. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  16. Nations, United. "Member States". United Nations. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  17. "A World Tour of the States not recognized by the UN". Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  18. Human Development Report 2023-24: Breaking the gridlock: Reimagining cooperation in a polarized world. United Nations Development Programme. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. "Developing regions | Human Development Reports". hdr.undp.org. United Nations Development Programme. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  20. "Human Development Report 2020: Reader's Guide | Human Development Reports". hdr.undp.org. United Nations Development Programme. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  21. "Human Development Report 2020 – Technical notes" (PDF). hdr.undp.org. United Nations Development Programme. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  22. Human Development Report 2021-22: Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives: Shaping our Future in a Transforming World (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 8 September 2022. p. 280. ISBN   978-9-211-26451-7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.