Human Development Index

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Human Development Index
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What it is
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary
measure of human development that is published by
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The HDI provides an alternative to the common
practice of evaluating a countrys progress in
development based on per capita Gross Domestic
Product (GDP). The HDI is the signature trademark
of the Human Development Report (HDR), an
independent report commissioned by the UNDP that
is written by a team of scholars, development
practitioners and members of the Human
Development Report Office of UNDP. The HDI has
had a significant impact on drawing the attention
of governments, corporations and international
organizations to aspects of development that
focus on the expansion of choices and freedoms,
not just income.
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Background The first Human Development Report
(HDR) was published in 1990, under the leadership
of Pakistani economist and finance minister
Mahbub ul Haq and Indian Nobel Laureate for
Economics Amartya Sen.
The Reason for it Physical expansion of an
economy, as measured by per capita GDP, does not
necessarily mean that people are better off in
the larger sense of the term health, freedom,
education, meaningful work and leisure time,
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The HDI measures the average achievements in a
country in three basic dimensions of human
development Life Expectancy- A long and healthy
life, as measured by life expectancy at birth.
Education/Knowledge, as measured by the adult
literacy rate (with two-thirds weight) and the
combined primary, secondary and tertiary gross
enrollment ratio (with one-third weight).
Standard of living, as measured by GDP per
capita in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms in
US dollars.
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A higher value indicates a higher level of
development as indicated by the HDI.
http//hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/