Human Development Index (HDI)

Source: HT

Context: India has climbed three positions to rank 130 out of 193 countries in the 2023 Human Development Index (HDI), according to the 2025 Human Development Report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

About Human Development Index (HDI):

• What is Human Development Index (HDI)?

• The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite statistical measure that assesses a country’s average achievements in three key dimensions:

• Health – Measured by life expectancy at birth

• Education – Measured by mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling

• Standard of Living – Measured by Gross National Income (GNI) per capita (PPP adjusted)

• Published by: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

• First introduced: In 1990, in the first Human Development Report authored by Mahbub ul Haq and Amartya Sen.

Key Highlights of Human Development Report 2025:

• India-Specific Insights: India’s 2023 HDI Rank: 130 out of 193 (up from 133 in 2022) HDI Value (2023): 0.685 (up from 0.676 in 2022) Category: Still under Medium Human Development; nearing the High Development threshold (0.700) Comparison: Same HDI value as Bangladesh, but with differing indicators; India ahead of Pakistan (168th, 0.544) and Nepal (145th, 0.622). Progress Made: Life Expectancy: Increased to 72 years in 2023, (from 67.7 years in 2022). Expected Years of Schooling: Rose to 13 years (from 12.6 years). Mean Years of Schooling: Improved to 9 years (from 6.57 years). GNI per capita: Rose to $9,046.76 in 2023 (from $6,951 in 2022) Multidimensional Poverty: 135 million Indians exited poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21 Persisting Inequality: Inequality-adjusted HDI: India faces a 30.7% loss due to inequality, one of the highest in Asia Gender Inequality: Female labour force participation and political representation remain low (India ranks 102nd with a score of 403.) GNI per Capita Rank: 7 ranks below HDI rank → income remains a weak spot. Global Trends: Top performer: Iceland (0.972), Norway (0.970), Switzerland (0.970). Bottom: South Sudan, Somalia, Central African Republic. BRICS Comparison: Brazil (89), Russia (59), China (75), South Africa (110) all ahead of India. The pace of HDI growth globally is the slowest since 1990. Inequality between low and very high HDI countries has worsened for the fourth consecutive year.

• India’s 2023 HDI Rank: 130 out of 193 (up from 133 in 2022)

• HDI Value (2023): 0.685 (up from 0.676 in 2022)

• Category: Still under Medium Human Development; nearing the High Development threshold (0.700)

• Comparison: Same HDI value as Bangladesh, but with differing indicators; India ahead of Pakistan (168th, 0.544) and Nepal (145th, 0.622).

• Progress Made: Life Expectancy: Increased to 72 years in 2023, (from 67.7 years in 2022). Expected Years of Schooling: Rose to 13 years (from 12.6 years). Mean Years of Schooling: Improved to 9 years (from 6.57 years). GNI per capita: Rose to $9,046.76 in 2023 (from $6,951 in 2022) Multidimensional Poverty: 135 million Indians exited poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21

• Life Expectancy: Increased to 72 years in 2023, (from 67.7 years in 2022).

• Expected Years of Schooling: Rose to 13 years (from 12.6 years).

• Mean Years of Schooling: Improved to 9 years (from 6.57 years).

• GNI per capita: Rose to $9,046.76 in 2023 (from $6,951 in 2022)

• Multidimensional Poverty: 135 million Indians exited poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21

• Persisting Inequality: Inequality-adjusted HDI: India faces a 30.7% loss due to inequality, one of the highest in Asia Gender Inequality: Female labour force participation and political representation remain low (India ranks 102nd with a score of 403.) GNI per Capita Rank: 7 ranks below HDI rank → income remains a weak spot.

• Inequality-adjusted HDI: India faces a 30.7% loss due to inequality, one of the highest in Asia

• Gender Inequality: Female labour force participation and political representation remain low (India ranks 102nd with a score of 403.)

• GNI per Capita Rank: 7 ranks below HDI rank → income remains a weak spot.

• Global Trends: Top performer: Iceland (0.972), Norway (0.970), Switzerland (0.970). Bottom: South Sudan, Somalia, Central African Republic. BRICS Comparison: Brazil (89), Russia (59), China (75), South Africa (110) all ahead of India. The pace of HDI growth globally is the slowest since 1990. Inequality between low and very high HDI countries has worsened for the fourth consecutive year.

• Top performer: Iceland (0.972), Norway (0.970), Switzerland (0.970).

• Bottom: South Sudan, Somalia, Central African Republic.

• BRICS Comparison: Brazil (89), Russia (59), China (75), South Africa (110) all ahead of India.

• The pace of HDI growth globally is the slowest since 1990.

• Inequality between low and very high HDI countries has worsened for the fourth consecutive year.