Human Development Index

The Human Development Index is a measure of development.

It uses three key criteria:

• Average life expectancy
• Education Index
  • Mean years of school
  • Expected years of school
• Income Index (GNI at PPP)

The HDI is a number between 0 and 1. A higher number is more developed.

Drawbacks of H.D.I

• Doesn't show regional differences
• Slow to respond / doesn't update often enough to show short term changes
• GNI does not show welfare, depends how the government spends it, e.g military

Improvements to the H.D.I

These factors if added to the H.D.I it could make it more accurate.

• Distribution of Income (Included in Human Poverty Index)
• Level of environmental degration
• Freedom / Political Freedom
• Happiness

Top Countries

0.961 - Switzerland 0.959 - Norway 0.955 - Iceland