Human Development Index (HDI) by Country 2022

Exactly what does HDI mean? A country’s average accomplishment in three fundamental aspects of human development: a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a reasonable quality of living, as defined by the United Nations, may be measured using the HDI.

Since its inception in 1990, the HDI has been published every year except 2012.

Life expectancy, literacy rate, electrification of rural areas, gross domestic product per person, exports and imports, homicide rate, multidimensional poverty index, income inequality, and internet access are just a few of the indicators that go into calculating a country’s Human Development Index value. 

All of these measurements are added together to form a single number between 0 and 1, with 1 being the maximum level of human development conceivable.

Very high human development (0.8-1.0), high human development (0.7-0.79), medium human development (0.55-.70), and poor human development (0.5) are the four categories of the HDI (below 0.55).

The Human Development Index (HDI) for the Top 10 Countries in 2019

1. Norway — .957
2. Ireland — .955 (tie)
3. Switzerland — .955 (tie)
4. Hong Kong (China) — .949 (tie)
5. Iceland — .949 (tie)
6. Germany — .947
7. Sweden — .945
8. Australia — .944 (tie)
9. Netherlands — .944 (tie)
10. Denmark — .940

The majority of industrialised nations have Human Development Index (HDI) scores of 0.8 or above, placing them in the highest human development category.

In addition to having a strong economy and rising life expectancies, these nations also have strong governments and widely available, low-cost education and healthcare. In contrast, LDCs often fall into the poor human development group with HDI scores of 0.55 or below. 

Low-income countries (LDCs) have weak governments, widespread poverty, limited access to medical care, and subpar educational opportunities. Additionally, these nations have poor GDP and short life expectancies, paired with large birth rates.

This highlights the core goal of the HDI: to help the United Nations assess which nations (particularly the least developed countries) require assistance.

The Human Development Index (HDI) for the Top 10 Countries with the Lowest Levels in 2019

1. Niger – .394
2. Central African Republic – .397
3. Chad – .398
4. Burundi – .433 (tie)
5. South Sudan – .433 (tie)
6. Mali – .434
7. Burkina Faso – .452 (tie)
8. Sierra Leone – .452 (tie)
9. Mozambique – .456
10. Eritrea – .459

Also See: Four-Letter Countries 2022

See the table below for a complete list of countries and their 2019 Human Development Index (HDI) rating.