In the Human Development Index (HDI), Pakistan’s standing has seen an upward trend, now ranking 161st among 191 nations. This improvement is notable when compared to the previous year, where it held the 164th position with 0.540 points in 2023. The HDI evaluates nations based on three key aspects: education, healthcare, and income, with values ranging from 0 to 1.
The report indicated that the world has reverted to pre-pandemic conditions, exacerbating the disparity between affluent and impoverished nations. Progress in wealthy countries has accelerated, whereas poor nations remain trapped in poverty. In Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka ranked 73rd with a score of 0.782, followed by Bangladesh at 129th with 0.661 points, India at 132nd with 0.633 points, Nepal at 143rd, and Afghanistan, sadly, last in the region with 0.478 points at the 180th position.
The Global Human Development Index experienced a setback on two occasions during the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022. The 2023 estimation was influenced by factors such as life expectancy, education, and standard of living, which were negatively impacted due to the pandemic and the Russian conflict.
Following a two-year period where the world faced a setback in global human development due to the pandemic and its ramifications, the UNDP’s head, Achim Steiner, informed AFP about a subsequent recovery.
The leading nations in the report, including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Hong Kong, and Australia, showcase strong economic growth, educational access, and healthy life expectancy. However, our interconnected global communities face challenges, and we must collaborate and utilize our resources to tackle shared issues, fulfilling people’s aspirations while acknowledging the human impact behind the numbers.
The United States has not ranked among the top ten countries in the index highlighting the importance of working in the health and education sectors. The Human Development Index evaluates human development and its key components are health, education, and standard of living.
