List of countries by Human Development Index

HDI2022map

HDI2022Incrimental

Average annual HDI growth from 2010 to 2021 published in 2022

Average annual HDI growth from 2010 to 2021 published in 2022

List of countries by Human Development Index (HDI) ranks countries based on the Human Development Index as published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The HDI is a composite index measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living. Countries are ranked into four tiers of human development on the basis of these dimensions: very high human development, high human development, medium human development, and low human development.

Overview

The HDI is a summary measure for assessing long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living. The health dimension is assessed by life expectancy at birth; the education dimension is measured by mean of years of schooling for adults aged 25 years and more and expected years of schooling for children entering school; and the standard of living dimension is measured by gross national income per capita.

Methodology

The methodology for calculating the HDI has evolved since its inception. The HDI is a composite index of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators, which are used to rank countries into four tiers of human development. A country scores higher HDI when the lifespan is higher, the education level is higher, and the GDP per capita is higher.

Rankings

The rankings are annually reported by the UNDP in its Human Development Report. The report classifies countries into four categories based on their HDI scores:

• Very High Human Development
• High Human Development
• Medium Human Development
• Low Human Development

Countries with higher scores are considered to have higher levels of human development. The most recent report highlights significant progress in many countries but also underscores persistent challenges such as inequality, significant disparities between countries and regions, and ongoing conflicts that threaten to reverse development gains.

Criticism and Limitations

While the HDI is widely used as a measure of development and a way to track human progress, it has its critics. Some argue that the HDI oversimplifies and reduces human development to three dimensions and a few indicators, potentially overlooking important aspects such as economic inequality, gender inequality, and environmental degradation. Others point out that the reliance on national averages can hide disparities within countries.

Conclusion

The list of countries by Human Development Index serves as a useful tool for comparing the level of development across countries and regions. It highlights where countries are performing well and where there are opportunities for improvement. Despite its limitations, the HDI remains one of the most widely used indices for measuring human development globally.