In the most recent Human Development Index (HDI) released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), India ranks 130 out of 189 nations.
About Human Development Index
Introduced in 1990 as part of the first Human Development Report, the HDI is a tool devised by the United Nations. It measures and ranks countries based on their levels of social and economic development. This index comprises three fundamental dimensions: living standards (measured by gross national income per capita), health (measured by life expectancy at birth), and education levels (calculated by the mean years of adult education and the expected years of schooling for children). The HDI allows us to track changes in development levels over time and compare them across different countries.
Key points: Global Scenario
With an HDI score of 0.95, Norway tops the list, while Niger falls at the bottom with 0.35. The most significant HDI rank increase in the past five years was seen in Ireland and Turkey, while conflict-ridden countries like Syria, Libya, and Yemen saw a decline. Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Ireland, and Germany lead the ranking, whereas Niger, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Chad, and Burundi have the lowest scores.
Among South Asian countries, India’s HDI value is above the average of 0.638 for the region. Countries with a similar population size, Bangladesh and Pakistan, are ranked 136 and 150 respectively.
Global Trends in Human Development
The overall trend indicates improvements in human development globally, with many countries moving up the HDI categories. Out of the 189 countries, 59 are in the very high human development group while only 38 fall within the low HDI group.
However, significant disparities exist worldwide, particularly in people’s well-being. For instance, a child born in a low HDI country is expected to live about 60 years, compared to 80 years in a very high HDI country.
India’s Progress in HDI
India moved up one spot in the most recent HDI ranking, climbing from 131st to 130th out of 189 countries. India’s HDI value for 2017 was 0.640, placing India in the medium human development category. From 1990 to 2017, there has been about a 50% increase in India’s HDI value, suggesting rapid progress in poverty eradication.
Inequality in India’s Human Development
Despite the impressive rise in India’s HDI, the Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI) fell by over 25% to 0.468, indicating stark inequalities in access to education, health, and income.
Gender Inequality in India
The Gender Inequality Index ranks India 127 out of 160 countries, reflecting gender-based disparities in reproductive health, empowerment (political and educational), and economic activity.
Limitations of HDI
The HDI permits only a limited assessment of human development. It does not specifically reflect quality of life factors or feelings of security.
The Way Forward
While India’s HDI has improved significantly over the past two and half decades, we must focus on eradicating inequality that hampers human development.