India ranks 134 on the global Human Development Index (HDI) according to the 2023-24 Human Development Report (HDR), titled ‘Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarised World’
Key Points
- The HDI is a composite statistical measure created by the United Nations Development Programme to evaluate and compare the level of human development in different regions around the world.
- It was introduced in 1990 as an alternative to conventional economic measures such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which do not consider the broader aspects of human development.
- 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.
Dimension Of Human Development Report
Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure of human development. It measures the average achievements in a country in three basic dimensions of human development:
- A long and healthy life
- Access to knowledge
- A decent standard of living
Global HDI Rankings
- India ranked 134 in 2022, showing a slight improvement from its previous rank of 135 in 2021. It falls under the medium human development category. Between 1990 and 2022, India saw over 48% increase in its HDI value, from 0.434 to 0.644
- Switzerland (0.967), Norway (0.966) and Iceland (0.959) are the top three countries (Scores)
- Somalia (0.380), South Sudan (0.381), Central African Republic (0.387) are the bottom three Countries
- The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and Monaco were not ranked in the index
- Sri Lanka has been ranked much ahead at 78, while China is ranked 75, both categorised under the High Human Development category.
- India also ranks below Bhutan which stands at 125 and Bangladesh, which is in the 129th position. India, Bhutan and Bangladesh are all in the Medium Human Development category.
- Nepal (146) and Pakistan (164) have been ranked lower than India.
India’s Ranking in the Human Development Report
- India’s average life expectancy reached 67.7 years in 2022, up from 62.7 years the previous year.
- India’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita has surged to USD 6951, marking a 6.3% increase over the span of 12 months.
- There is a rise in expected years of schooling, reaching 12.6 per individual.
- India attained an HDI score of 0.644 in 2022, positioning it at 134 out of 193 countries in the UN’s 2023-24 report.
- This categorises India under ‘medium human development.’
- With India’s HDI in 1990 standing at 0.434, the 2022 score reflects a positive change of 48.4%.
- There is a 9.1-year increase in life expectancy at birth, a rise of 4.6 years in expected years of schooling, and an increase of 3.8 years in mean years of schooling.
- India’s strides in reducing gender inequality, highlighted a Gender Inequality Index (GII) of 0.437, surpassing the global average.
- On the GII 2022 list, which evaluates countries based on reproductive health, empowerment, and labour market participation, India ranks 108 out of 166 nations in 2022.
Recommendations from the Human Development Report
To break through the current deadlock & reignite a commitment to a shared future:
- planetary public goods for climate stability as we confront the unprecedented challenges of the Anthropocene;
- digital global public goods for greater equity in harnessing new technologies for equitable human development;
- new and expanded financial mechanisms, including a novel track in international cooperation that complements humanitarian assistance and traditional development aid to low-income countries; and
- dialling down political polarization through new governance approaches focused on enhancing people’s voices in deliberation and tackling misinformation.
Conclusion
The latest Human Development Report shows India making progress in life expectancy, income, and education. However, challenges remain in gender equality, health access, and regional disparities. As India continues to advance, strategic focus on equity, digital inclusion, and climate resilience will be critical.
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