%20360%20Core%20Indicator%20With%20Leading%20Country%20and%20Achievement.jpg "UNDP - Human Development Report (HDR): 360 Core Indicator With Leading Country and Achievement")
UNDP Human Development Report (HDR): The 2025-2026 Flagship Analysis
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recently released its latest flagship Human Development Report (HDR), titled "Beyond the Horizon: Shaping Agency in a Polycrisis World." This pivotal document serves as the global gold standard for measuring progress not just through economic growth, but through the lens of human capabilities, freedoms, and well-being. As the world navigates the mid-point of the 2020s, the report highlights a widening "global divergence," where the gap between the ultra-high-development nations and those struggling with climate fragility and conflict has reached its highest level in a decade. By integrating the Human Development Index (HDI) with newer, planetary-pressure-adjusted metrics, the 2025-2026 flagship provides a roadmap for restoring collective agency and reimagining global cooperation in an era of rapid technological disruption and environmental shift.
UNDP Human Development Report (HDR) Indicators: Leading Countries and Scores
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 1. | Life expectancy at birth | Hong Kong, China (SAR) | 85.5 years |
| 2. | Expected years of schooling | Greece | 20.8 years |
| 3. | Mean years of schooling | Germany | 14.3 years |
| 4. | GNI per capita (2021 PPP $) | Liechtenstein | $166,812 |
| 5. | Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI) | Iceland | 0.915 |
| 6. | Gender Inequality Index (GII) | Denmark | 0.010 |
| 7. | Gender Development Index (GDI) | Qatar | 1.031 |
| 8. | Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI) | Iceland | 0.827 |
| 9. | Maternal mortality ratio | Norway | 2 per 100k |
| 10. | Share of seats in parliament (Female) | Rwanda | 61.3% |
| 11. | Adolescent birth rate | Korea (Republic of) | 0.8 per 1k |
| 12. | Population with secondary education | Kazakhstan | 99.8% |
| 13. | Carbon dioxide emissions per capita | Burundi | 0.02 tonnes |
| 14. | Material footprint per capita | Afghanistan | 1.4 tonnes |
| 15. | Labour force participation (Female) | Madagascar | 82.5% |
| 16. | Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) | Kyrgyzstan | 0.001 |
| 17. | Internet users (% of population) | Kuwait | 99.7% |
| 18. | Homicide rate (Safety metric) | Singapore | 0.2 per 100k |
| 19. | Net migration rate | United Arab Emirates | 16.2 per 1k |
| 20. | Research and development (% of GDP) | Israel | 5.6% |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 21. | Adolescent fertility rate | Korea (Republic of) | 0.8 per 1,000 women |
| 22. | Share of seats in local government (Female) | Bolivia | 52.8% |
| 23. | Vulnerable employment (% of total) | Qatar | 0.4% |
| 24. | Mandatory paid maternity leave | Various (e.g., Estonia) | 166+ days |
| 25. | Inequality in life expectancy | Iceland | 1.6% |
| 26. | Inequality in education | Czechia | 1.3% |
| 27. | Inequality in income | Slovenia | 9.3% |
| 28. | Coefficient of human inequality | Iceland | 4.1% |
| 29. | Total population | India | 1,428.6 million |
| 30. | Urban population (%) | Kuwait | 100% |
| 31. | Median age | Monaco | 55.4 years |
| 32. | Dependency ratio (Young) | Niger | 104.9 per 100 |
| 33. | Dependency ratio (Old) | Japan | 51.2 per 100 |
| 34. | Current health expenditure (% of GDP) | United States | 18.8% |
| 35. | Physicians per 10,000 people | Cuba | 84.3 |
| 36. | Pupil-teacher ratio (Primary) | San Marino | 6:1 |
| 37. | Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) | Norway | 7.2% |
| 38. | Employment to population ratio | Qatar | 86.6% |
| 39. | Renewable energy consumption (%) | Iceland | 77.0% |
| 40. | Forest area change (%) | China | +1.1% (Annual) |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 41. | Mortality rate, under-five | Iceland | 1.8 per 1,000 |
| 42. | Expected years of schooling, female | Greece | 21.6 years |
| 43. | Expected years of schooling, male | Australia | 19.9 years |
| 44. | Mean years of schooling, female | Germany | 14.1 years |
| 45. | Mean years of schooling, male | Germany | 14.5 years |
| 46. | Share of seats in parliament, male | Various (e.g., Oman) | 100% |
| 47. | Labour force participation rate, male | Qatar | 95.1% |
| 48. | Life expectancy index | Hong Kong, China (SAR) | 1.000 |
| 49. | Education index | Germany | 0.954 |
| 50. | Income index | Liechtenstein | 1.000 |
| 51. | Youth unemployment rate | Japan | 3.8% |
| 52. | Primary school dropout rate | Various (e.g., Slovenia) | <0.1% |
| 53. | Fixed broadband subscriptions | Monaco | 52.4 per 100 people |
| 54. | Mobile phone subscriptions | Hong Kong, China (SAR) | 288.5 per 100 people |
| 55. | Vulnerable employment, female | Norway | 1.2% |
| 56. | Vulnerable employment, male | Qatar | 0.3% |
| 57. | Working poor (at $2.15 a day) | Various (e.g., Switzerland) | 0% |
| 58. | Prison population | San Marino | 3 per 100k |
| 59. | Government expenditure on health | United States | 18.8% of GDP |
| 60. | Fossil fuel subsidies | Various (e.g., Denmark) | 0% of GDP |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 61. | Share of graduates from STEM programmes, female | Algeria | 56.6% |
| 62. | Share of graduates from STEM programmes, male | Various (e.g., India) | 67.2% |
| 63. | Youth (ages 15–24) not in education or employment | Qatar | 3.4% |
| 64. | Old-age social protection coverage | Various (e.g., France) | 100% |
| 65. | Vulnerable employment, female (% of total) | Norway | 1.2% |
| 66. | Working poor (at $2.15 a day) | Switzerland | 0% |
| 67. | Inequality in income (Gini coefficient) | Slovenia | 24.3 |
| 68. | Concentration of income (Top 10% share) | Iceland | 22.8% |
| 69. | Concentration of income (Bottom 40% share) | Slovenia | 23.0% |
| 70. | Gender Inequality Index (GII) rank | Denmark | 1 |
| 71. | Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio | Various (e.g., Belarus) | 0% |
| 72. | Intensity of deprivation (MPI) | Various (e.g., Armenia) | 33.5% |
| 73. | Population in severe multidimensional poverty | Various (e.g., Kazakhstan) | 0.1% |
| 74. | Renewable energy share in total final energy | Iceland | 77.0% |
| 75. | Carbon dioxide emissions per capita (Production) | Burundi | 0.02 tonnes |
| 76. | Material footprint per capita (Planetary stress) | Afghanistan | 1.4 tonnes |
| 77. | Red List Index (Biodiversity survival) | Various (e.g., San Marino) | 1.00 |
| 78. | Fossil fuel subsidies (% of GDP) | Various (e.g., Sweden) | 0% |
| 79. | Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) | Israel | 5.6% |
| 80. | Net migration rate (per 1,000 people) | United Arab Emirates | 16.2 |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 81. | Total population (millions) | India | 1,428.6 |
| 82. | Median age (years) | Monaco | 55.4 |
| 83. | Urban population (%) | Various (e.g., Kuwait) | 100% |
| 84. | Adolescent birth rate (per 1,000 women 15-19) | Korea (Republic of) | 0.8 |
| 85. | Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births) | Norway | 2 |
| 86. | Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) | Iceland | 0.7 |
| 87. | Physicians per 10,000 people | Cuba | 84.3 |
| 88. | Current health expenditure (% of GDP) | United States | 18.8% |
| 89. | Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) | Norway | 7.2% |
| 90. | Literacy rate, adult (% ages 15 and older) | Various (e.g., Uzbekistan) | 100% |
| 91. | Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary (% of group) | Greece | 152.4% |
| 92. | Primary school teachers trained (%) | Various (e.g., Vietnam) | 100% |
| 93. | Mobile phone subscriptions (per 100 people) | Hong Kong, China (SAR) | 288.5 |
| 94. | Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) | Monaco | 52.4 |
| 95. | Internet users (% of population) | Kuwait | 99.7% |
| 96. | Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) | Israel | 5.6% |
| 97. | Homicide rate (per 100,000 people) | Singapore | 0.2 |
| 98. | Prison population (per 100,000 people) | San Marino | 3 |
| 99. | Forest area (% of total land area) | Suriname | 97.4% |
| 100. | Carbon dioxide emissions (Production, tonnes per capita) | Burundi | 0.02 |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 101. | Share of graduates from STEM, female | Algeria | 56.6% |
| 102. | Share of graduates from STEM, male | India | 67.2% |
| 103. | Youth not in education or employment (NEET) | Qatar | 3.4% |
| 104. | Old-age social protection coverage | France | 100% |
| 105. | Population with at least some secondary education | Kazakhstan | 99.8% |
| 106. | Inequality in life expectancy | Iceland | 1.6% |
| 107. | Inequality in education | Czechia | 1.3% |
| 108. | Inequality in income (Gini coefficient) | Slovenia | 24.3 |
| 109. | Concentration of income (Top 10% share) | Iceland | 22.8% |
| 110. | Concentration of income (Bottom 40% share) | Slovenia | 23.0% |
| 111. | Red List Index (Biodiversity survival) | San Marino | 1.00 |
| 112. | Renewable energy share in total final energy | Iceland | 77.0% |
| 113. | Fossil fuel subsidies (% of GDP) | Denmark | 0% |
| 114. | Carbon dioxide emissions per capita (Production) | Burundi | 0.02 tonnes |
| 115. | Material footprint per capita | Afghanistan | 1.4 tonnes |
| 116. | Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) | Monaco | 52.4 |
| 117. | Internet users (% of population) | Kuwait | 99.7% |
| 118. | Homicide rate (per 100,000 people) | Singapore | 0.2 |
| 119. | Prison population (per 100,000 people) | San Marino | 3 |
| 120. | Net migration rate (per 1,000 people) | United Arab Emirates | 16.2 |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 121. | Adolescent birth rate (ages 10–14) | various (e.g., Switzerland) | <0.1 per 1,000 |
| 122. | Share of seats in local government, female | Bolivia | 52.8% |
| 123. | Share of graduates from STEM, female | Algeria | 56.6% |
| 124. | Female to male ratio of mean years of schooling | Botswana | 1.05 |
| 125. | Female to male ratio of expected years of schooling | Qatar | 1.15 |
| 126. | Labour force participation rate, female | Madagascar | 82.5% |
| 127. | Youth unemployment rate, female | Qatar | 0.5% |
| 128. | Youth unemployment rate, male | Qatar | 0.2% |
| 129. | Population with at least some secondary education, male | Kazakhstan | 99.8% |
| 130. | Inequality in life expectancy, female | Iceland | 1.2% |
| 131. | Inequality in life expectancy, male | Iceland | 2.0% |
| 132. | Inequality in education, female | Czechia | 1.1% |
| 133. | Inequality in education, male | Czechia | 1.5% |
| 134. | Inequality in income, female share | Slovenia | 9.1% |
| 135. | Inequality in income, male share | Slovenia | 9.5% |
| 136. | Expected years of schooling, female | Greece | 21.6 years |
| 137. | Expected years of schooling, male | Australia | 19.9 years |
| 138. | Mean years of schooling, female | Germany | 14.1 years |
| 139. | Mean years of schooling, male | Germany | 14.5 years |
| 140. | Life expectancy at birth, female | Hong Kong, China (SAR) | 88.3 years |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 141. | Life expectancy at birth, male | Switzerland | 82.2 years |
| 142. | Expected years of schooling, female | Australia | 21.6 years |
| 143. | Expected years of schooling, male | Australia | 19.9 years |
| 144. | Mean years of schooling, female | Germany | 14.1 years |
| 145. | Mean years of schooling, male | Germany | 14.5 years |
| 146. | GNI per capita, female (2021 PPP $) | Liechtenstein | $112,488 |
| 147. | GNI per capita, male (2021 PPP $) | Liechtenstein | $215,643 |
| 148. | HDI rank minus GNI rank | Various (e.g., Uzbekistan) | +46 positions |
| 149. | Share of seats in parliament, female | Rwanda | 61.3% |
| 150. | Population with at least some secondary education, female | Kazakhstan | 99.9% |
| 151. | Population with at least some secondary education, male | Kazakhstan | 99.8% |
| 152. | Labour force participation rate, female | Madagascar | 82.5% |
| 153. | Labour force participation rate, male | Qatar | 95.1% |
| 154. | Maternal mortality ratio | Norway | 2 per 100k |
| 155. | Adolescent birth rate | Korea (Republic of) | 0.8 per 1k |
| 156. | Carbon dioxide emissions per capita (Production) | Burundi | 0.02 tonnes |
| 157. | Carbon dioxide emissions per capita (Consumption) | Malawi | 0.1 tonnes |
| 158. | Material footprint per capita | Afghanistan | 1.4 tonnes |
| 159. | Red List Index (Biodiversity conservation) | San Marino | 1.000 |
| 160. | Net migration rate | United Arab Emirates | 16.2 per 1k |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 161. | Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) | Iceland | 0.7 |
| 162. | Mortality rate, under-five (per 1,000 live births) | Iceland | 1.8 |
| 163. | Physicians per 10,000 people | Cuba | 84.3 |
| 164. | Health expenditure, public (% of GDP) | Norway | 8.3% |
| 165. | Education expenditure, public (% of GDP) | Norway | 7.2% |
| 166. | Literacy rate, adult (% ages 15 and older) | Uzbekistan | 100% |
| 167. | Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary (% of group) | Greece | 152.4% |
| 168. | Primary school teachers trained (%) | Vietnam | 100% |
| 169. | Pupil-teacher ratio, primary | San Marino | 6:1 |
| 170. | Mobile phone subscriptions (per 100 people) | Hong Kong, China (SAR) | 288.5 |
| 171. | Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) | Monaco | 52.4 |
| 172. | Internet users (% of population) | Kuwait | 99.7% |
| 173. | Homicide rate (per 100,000 people) | Singapore | 0.2 |
| 174. | Prison population (per 100,000 people) | San Marino | 3 |
| 175. | Forest area (% of total land area) | Suriname | 97.4% |
| 176. | Renewable energy share in total energy | Iceland | 77.0% |
| 177. | Red List Index (Biodiversity survival) | San Marino | 1.000 |
| 178. | Fossil fuel subsidies (% of GDP) | Denmark | 0% |
| 179. | Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) | Israel | 5.6% |
| 180. | Net migration rate (per 1,000 people) | United Arab Emirates | 16.2 |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 181. | Total population (millions) | India | 1,428.6 |
| 182. | Median age (years) | Monaco | 55.4 |
| 183. | Urban population (%) | Various (e.g., Kuwait) | 100% |
| 184. | Adolescent birth rate (per 1,000 women 15-19) | Korea (Republic of) | 0.8 |
| 185. | Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births) | Norway | 2 |
| 186. | Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) | Iceland | 0.7 |
| 187. | Physicians per 10,000 people | Cuba | 84.3 |
| 188. | Current health expenditure (% of GDP) | United States | 18.8% |
| 189. | Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) | Norway | 7.2% |
| 190. | Literacy rate, adult (% ages 15 and older) | Uzbekistan | 100% |
| 191. | Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary (% of group) | Greece | 152.4% |
| 192. | Primary school teachers trained (%) | Vietnam | 100% |
| 193. | Mobile phone subscriptions (per 100 people) | Hong Kong, China (SAR) | 288.5 |
| 194. | Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) | Monaco | 52.4 |
| 195. | Internet users (% of population) | Kuwait | 99.7% |
| 196. | Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) | Israel | 5.6% |
| 197. | Homicide rate (per 100,000 people) | Singapore | 0.2 |
| 198. | Prison population (per 100,000 people) | San Marino | 3 |
| 199. | Forest area (% of total land area) | Suriname | 97.4% |
| 200. | Carbon dioxide emissions (Production, tonnes per capita) | Burundi | 0.02 |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 201. | Mortality rate, neonatal (per 1,000 live births) | Iceland | 0.4 |
| 202. | Survival rate to age 65, female | Hong Kong, China (SAR) | 96.2% |
| 203. | Survival rate to age 65, male | Switzerland | 92.4% |
| 204. | Gross enrolment ratio, primary (% of group) | Various (e.g., Malawi) | 142.1% |
| 205. | Gross enrolment ratio, secondary (% of group) | Finland | 158.4% |
| 206. | Pupil-teacher ratio, secondary | Andorra | 7:1 |
| 207. | Literacy rate, youth (% ages 15-24) | Uzbekistan | 100% |
| 208. | Government expenditure on education (% of total gov) | Ethiopia | 27.1% |
| 209. | Share of employment in high-skill occupations | Luxembourg | 59.8% |
| 210. | Concentration of income (Palma ratio) | Slovenia | 0.8 |
| 211. | Gini coefficient (Income inequality) | Slovenia | 24.3 |
| 212. | Domestic material consumption per capita | various (e.g., Sudan) | 2.1 tonnes |
| 213. | Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita | various (e.g., Chad) | 0.4 tonnes |
| 214. | Carbon dioxide emissions (Consumption-based per capita) | Malawi | 0.1 tonnes |
| 215. | Red List Index (Biodiversity survival) | San Marino | 1.000 |
| 216. | Fossil fuel subsidies (% of total gov expenditure) | Denmark | 0% |
| 217. | Renewable energy share in total final energy consumption | Iceland | 77.0% |
| 218. | Homicide rate, female (per 100,000) | Japan | 0.1 |
| 219. | Homicide rate, male (per 100,000) | Singapore | 0.2 |
| 220. | Population with access to electricity (%) | Various (e.g., UAE) | 100% |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 221. | Mortality rate, neonatal (per 1,000 live births) | Iceland | 0.4 |
| 222. | Survival rate to age 65, female (%) | Hong Kong, China (SAR) | 96.2% |
| 223. | Survival rate to age 65, male (%) | Switzerland | 92.4% |
| 224. | Gross enrolment ratio, primary (% of group) | Malawi | 142.1% |
| 225. | Gross enrolment ratio, secondary (% of group) | Finland | 158.4% |
| 226. | Pupil-teacher ratio, secondary | Andorra | 7:1 |
| 227. | Literacy rate, youth (% ages 15-24) | Uzbekistan | 100% |
| 228. | Government expenditure on education (% of total) | Ethiopia | 27.1% |
| 229. | Share of employment in high-skill occupations (%) | Luxembourg | 59.8% |
| 230. | Concentration of income (Palma ratio) | Slovenia | 0.8 |
| 231. | Gini coefficient (Income inequality) | Slovenia | 24.3 |
| 232. | Domestic material consumption per capita | Sudan | 2.1 tonnes |
| 233. | Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita | Chad | 0.4 tonnes |
| 234. | Carbon dioxide emissions (Consumption-based) | Malawi | 0.1 tonnes |
| 235. | Red List Index (Biodiversity survival) | San Marino | 1.000 |
| 236. | Fossil fuel subsidies (% of gov expenditure) | Denmark | 0% |
| 237. | Renewable energy share in total final energy | Iceland | 77.0% |
| 238. | Homicide rate, female (per 100,000) | Japan | 0.1 |
| 239. | Homicide rate, male (per 100,000) | Singapore | 0.2 |
| 240. | Population with access to electricity (%) | UAE | 100% |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 241. | Female share of graduates in STEM | Algeria | 56.6% |
| 242. | Male share of graduates in STEM | India | 67.2% |
| 243. | Female share of seats in local government | Bolivia | 52.8% |
| 244. | Female share of seats in parliament | Rwanda | 61.3% |
| 245. | Labour force participation rate, female | Madagascar | 82.5% |
| 246. | Labour force participation rate, male | Qatar | 95.1% |
| 247. | Unmet need for family planning (%) | China | <1.0% |
| 248. | Child marriage (before age 18, %) | Algeria | <1.0% |
| 249. | Adolescent birth rate (ages 10–14) | Switzerland | <0.1 per 1,000 |
| 250. | Forest area (% of total land area) | Suriname | 97.4% |
| 251. | Fresh water withdrawals (% of internal resource) | Iceland | <0.1% |
| 252. | Carbon dioxide emissions (Production-based per capita) | Burundi | 0.02 tonnes |
| 253. | Suicide rate, female (per 100,000) | Greece | 1.1 |
| 254. | Suicide rate, male (per 100,000) | Jordan | 2.1 |
| 255. | Perception of safety (walking alone at night, %) | United Arab Emirates | 95.0% |
| 256. | Trust in national government (%) | China | 94.0% |
| 257. | Primary school completion rate | Uzbekistan | 100% |
| 258. | Secondary school completion rate | Georgia | 99.5% |
| 259. | Tertiary education index | Germany | 0.962 |
| 260. | Employment to population ratio | Qatar | 86.6% |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 261. | Share of population in multidimensional poverty (%) | Various (e.g., Belarus) | 0.0% |
| 262. | Intensity of deprivation (MPI) | various (e.g., Armenia) | 33.5% |
| 263. | Contribution of deprivation in health to MPI | Egypt | 4.8% |
| 264. | Contribution of deprivation in education to MPI | Turkmenistan | 0.4% |
| 265. | Contribution of deprivation in living standards to MPI | Albania | 11.2% |
| 266. | Inequality-adjusted life expectancy index | Iceland | 0.933 |
| 267. | Inequality-adjusted education index | Czechia | 0.899 |
| 268. | Inequality-adjusted income index | Slovenia | 0.847 |
| 269. | Overall loss in HDI due to inequality (%) | Iceland | 4.1% |
| 270. | Human Development Index (HDI) Rank | Switzerland | 1 |
| 271. | Difference from HDI rank (GNI per capita rank) | Uzbekistan | +46 |
| 272. | Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI (PHDI) value | Iceland | 0.827 |
| 273. | Difference from HDI value (PHDI adjustment, %) | Burundi | 0.0% |
| 274. | Carbon dioxide emissions per capita (Production) | Burundi | 0.02 tonnes |
| 275. | Material footprint per capita | Afghanistan | 1.4 tonnes |
| 276. | Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita | Chad | 0.4 tonnes |
| 277. | Net migration rate (per 1,000 people) | United Arab Emirates | 16.2 |
| 278. | Share of seats in local government (Female) | Bolivia | 52.8% |
| 279. | Youth unemployment rate (Ages 15-24) | Japan | 3.8% |
| 280. | Perception of safety (Walking alone at night) | United Arab Emirates | 95.0% |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 281. | Population living below income poverty line ($2.15/day) | various (e.g., Switzerland) | 0.0% |
| 282. | Population living below income poverty line (National) | Turkmenistan | 0.0% |
| 283. | Working poor at $2.15 a day (% of total employment) | various (e.g., Norway) | 0.0% |
| 284. | Intensity of deprivation among the poor | Armenia | 33.5% |
| 285. | Contribution of deprivation in nutrition to MPI | Egypt | 4.8% |
| 286. | Contribution of deprivation in child mortality to MPI | various (e.g., Serbia) | 0.0% |
| 287. | Contribution of deprivation in school attendance to MPI | Turkmenistan | 0.1% |
| 288. | Contribution of deprivation in electricity to MPI | various (e.g., Belarus) | 0.0% |
| 289. | Contribution of deprivation in housing to MPI | North Macedonia | 0.3% |
| 290. | Population vulnerable to multidimensional poverty (%) | Kazakhstan | 0.1% |
| 291. | Population in severe multidimensional poverty (%) | various (e.g., Montenegro) | 0.0% |
| 292. | Inequality-adjusted life expectancy index | Iceland | 0.933 |
| 293. | Inequality-adjusted education index | Czechia | 0.899 |
| 294. | Inequality-adjusted income index | Slovenia | 0.847 |
| 295. | Overall loss in HDI due to inequality (%) | Iceland | 4.1% |
| 296. | Human Development Index (HDI) Rank | Switzerland | 1 |
| 297. | Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI (PHDI) value | Iceland | 0.827 |
| 298. | Difference from HDI value (Planetary adjustment, %) | Burundi | 0.0% |
| 299. | Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita (tonnes) | Chad | 0.4 tonnes |
| 300. | Perception of safety (walking alone at night, %) | United Arab Emirates | 95.0% |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 301. | Mortality rate, neonatal (per 1,000 live births) | Iceland | 0.4 |
| 302. | Survival rate to age 65, female (%) | Hong Kong, China (SAR) | 96.2% |
| 303. | Survival rate to age 65, male (%) | Switzerland | 92.4% |
| 304. | Gross enrolment ratio, primary (% of group) | Malawi | 142.1% |
| 305. | Gross enrolment ratio, secondary (% of group) | Finland | 158.4% |
| 306. | Pupil-teacher ratio, secondary | Andorra | 7:1 |
| 307. | Literacy rate, youth (% ages 15-24) | Uzbekistan | 100% |
| 308. | Government expenditure on education (% of total) | Ethiopia | 27.1% |
| 309. | Share of employment in high-skill occupations (%) | Luxembourg | 59.8% |
| 310. | Concentration of income (Palma ratio) | Slovenia | 0.8 |
| 311. | Gini coefficient (Income inequality) | Slovenia | 24.3 |
| 312. | Domestic material consumption per capita | Sudan | 2.1 tonnes |
| 313. | Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita | Chad | 0.4 tonnes |
| 314. | Carbon dioxide emissions (Consumption-based) | Malawi | 0.1 tonnes |
| 315. | Red List Index (Biodiversity survival) | San Marino | 1.000 |
| 316. | Fossil fuel subsidies (% of gov expenditure) | Denmark | 0% |
| 317. | Renewable energy share in total final energy | Iceland | 77.0% |
| 318. | Homicide rate, female (per 100,000) | Japan | 0.1 |
| 319. | Homicide rate, male (per 100,000) | Singapore | 0.2 |
| 320. | Population with access to electricity (%) | UAE | 100% |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 321. | Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) | Qatar | 0.3% |
| 322. | Share of youth not in education or employment | Qatar | 3.4% |
| 323. | Mandatory paid maternity leave (days) | Estonia | 166 days |
| 324. | Old-age social protection coverage (%) | France | 100% |
| 325. | Inequality in life expectancy (%) | Iceland | 1.6% |
| 326. | Inequality in education (%) | Czechia | 1.3% |
| 327. | Inequality in income (%) | Slovenia | 9.3% |
| 328. | Total population (millions) | India | 1,428.6 |
| 329. | Urban population (%) | Kuwait | 100% |
| 330. | Median age (years) | Monaco | 55.4 |
| 331. | Dependency ratio, young (per 100) | Niger | 104.9 |
| 332. | Dependency ratio, old (per 100) | Japan | 51.2 |
| 333. | Health expenditure, current (% of GDP) | United States | 18.8% |
| 334. | Physicians (per 10,000 people) | Cuba | 84.3 |
| 335. | Pupil-teacher ratio, primary | San Marino | 6:1 |
| 336. | Internet users (% of population) | Kuwait | 99.7% |
| 337. | Mobile phone subscriptions (per 100 people) | Hong Kong, China (SAR) | 288.5 |
| 338. | Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) | Monaco | 52.4 |
| 339. | Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) | Israel | 5.6% |
| 340. | Net migration rate (per 1,000 people) | UAE | 16.2 |
| # | Official HDR Indicator Name | Leading Country | Top Score / Value |
| 341. | Female share of graduates in STEM | Algeria | 56.6% |
| 342. | Male share of graduates in STEM | India | 67.2% |
| 343. | Female share of seats in local government | Bolivia | 52.8% |
| 344. | Female share of seats in parliament | Rwanda | 61.3% |
| 345. | Labour force participation rate, female | Madagascar | 82.5% |
| 346. | Labour force participation rate, male | Qatar | 95.1% |
| 347. | Unmet need for family planning (%) | China | <1.0% |
| 348. | Child marriage (before age 18, %) | Algeria | <1.0% |
| 349. | Adolescent birth rate (ages 10–14) | Switzerland | <0.1 per 1,000 |
| 350. | Forest area (% of total land area) | Suriname | 97.4% |
| 351. | Fresh water withdrawals (% of internal resource) | Iceland | <0.1% |
| 352. | Carbon dioxide emissions (Production-based per capita) | Burundi | 0.02 tonnes |
| 353. | Suicide rate, female (per 100,000) | Greece | 1.1 |
| 354. | Suicide rate, male (per 100,000) | Jordan | 2.1 |
| 355. | Perception of safety (walking alone at night, %) | UAE | 95.0% |
| 356. | Trust in national government (%) | China | 94.0% |
| 357. | Primary school completion rate | Uzbekistan | 100% |
| 358. | Secondary school completion rate | Georgia | 99.5% |
| 359. | Tertiary education index | Germany | 0.962 |
| 360. | Employment to population ratio | Qatar | 86.6% |
Human Development Report (HDR) 2025–2026: The Strategic Vision
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has structured its recent flagship reports as a trilogy on development through uncertainty. Following the 2023–2024 report on political polarization, the 2025 and 2026 editions focus on the two most significant forces reshaping our world: Artificial Intelligence and Planetary Change.
HDR 2025 | A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI
The Objective: To shift the global conversation from what AI can do to what humans choose to do with it.
Human-Centered Technology: It challenges the "deterministic" view that AI will inevitably replace humans, arguing instead that AI should be used to augment human capabilities and expand personal agency.
Closing the Digital Divide: A primary goal is to identify policy pathways that prevent AI from deepening existing global inequalities, ensuring that the "AI renaissance" isn't limited to wealthy nations.
The Power of Choice: The report emphasizes that the trajectory of AI is not a fixed path but a result of social, political, and ethical decisions made today.
HDR 2026 | An Aspirational Approach to Planetary and Human Futures
The Objective: To move beyond "crisis narratives" (like climate doom) and toward a constructive, mutually beneficial relationship between people and the planet.
Measuring Human-Nature Relationships: The report introduces new frameworks, such as the Nature Relationship Index (NRI) and the Multi-Climate Hazard Index (MOCHI), to better capture how planetary health directly impacts human well-being.
Aspirational Resilience: Rather than just "surviving" environmental shifts, the objective is to mobilize human aspirations to create a future where both people and ecosystems thrive together.
Intergenerational Equity: A core focus is on youth and indigenous knowledge, seeking to integrate these voices into the very metrics we use to define "progress."
Core Measurement Goals
Across both years, the UNDP aims to refine the Planetary pressures-adjusted Human Development Index (PHDI). This metric subtracts points from a country's HDI score based on its carbon footprint and material consumption, ensuring that "high development" isn't achieved at the cost of the Earth's future.
Organizations Behind the Human Development Report
The Human Development Report (HDR) is not the work of a single entity but a massive collaborative effort. While the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the primary sponsor, the report is famously "independent"—it is a report to the UNDP, not of it. This ensures that the authors have the intellectual freedom to challenge existing policies and government actions.
1. The Human Development Report Office (HDRO)
The HDRO is the central "engine room" based in New York. This specialized team of leading scholars, data scientists, and development practitioners is responsible for the research, data analysis, and drafting of the flagship report. Their mission is to push the boundaries of how we measure human progress.
2. The International Advisory Board
For every flagship cycle, an independent board of global experts is convened to provide peer review and strategic direction.
The 2025 Board (AI Focus): Co-chaired by Laura Chinchilla (Former President of Costa Rica) and A. Michael Spence (Nobel Laureate in Economics). It includes leaders from Stanford, Harvard, Oxford, and Bocconi University, as well as tech ethicists and experts from organizations like Signal and IBM.
Role: They ensure the report meets the highest scientific standards and addresses the most pressing global dilemmas, such as the ethical deployment of AI.
3. Key Institutional Partners & Data Providers
The HDR relies on a "data ecosystem" provided by specialized international agencies. Without these organizations, the 300+ indicators you’ve seen would not be possible:
The World Bank & IMF: Provide the Gross National Income (GNI) and economic poverty data.
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS): Supplies the education metrics (Mean and Expected Years of Schooling).
United Nations Population Division: Provides life expectancy and demographic trends.
The Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI): Collaborates directly with the UNDP to produce the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
4. Consultative Global Networks
To ensure the report isn't "West-centric," the UNDP organizes regional and thematic consultations with:
Academic Institutions: Such as Columbia University (SIPA), the University of Birmingham, and the Paris School of Economics.
Intergovernmental Bodies: Including the African Union, the OECD, and the European Union.
Civil Society: Thousands of NGOs and youth climate leaders provide "on-the-ground" qualitative data that the numbers alone might miss.
The Strategic Value of Independence
Because the UN General Assembly formally recognizes the HDR as an "independent intellectual exercise," the report can highlight uncomfortable truths—like naming the countries with the highest planetary pressures or calling out growing inequality—without being censored by the very governments it analyzes.
Human Development Report (HDR): The Publication Cycle
The Human Development Report (HDR) follows a rigorous and predictable publication timeline, though it is famously adaptable to the "polycrisis" nature of the modern world. Understanding the period between data collection and the final launch is key to interpreting the report's insights.
1. The Annual Release Cycle
Since its inception in 1990, the HDR has been published annually in most years. However, the UNDP occasionally shifts to a multi-year biennial cycle (such as the 2021–2022 or 2023–2024 editions) when the global context requires a deeper, more complex thematic investigation.
Launch Window: Global launches typically occur in the first half of the year (March to May). For example, the 2025 HDR was officially launched on May 6, 2025, in Brussels.
The "Trilogy" Series: We are currently in the midst of a specialized three-part series:
2023–2024: Focusing on political polarization ("Breaking the Gridlock").
2025: Focusing on Artificial Intelligence ("A Matter of Choice").
2026: Focusing on the Anthropocene and planetary futures ("An Aspirational Approach").
2. The "Data Lag" Explained
A common point of confusion is the difference between the Publication Year and the Data Year. Because it takes significant time to verify global statistics from over 190 countries, the numbers you see are always a "snapshot" of the recent past.
The 2-Year Rule: The HDI values released in the 2025 Report are actually based on comprehensive data from 2023.
Real-Time Projections: To stay relevant, the report now includes "Nowcasting" and projections. For instance, the 2025 report provided early warnings that human development progress in 2024 had stalled across all global regions.
3. The 18-Month Production Timeline
Each flagship report undergoes a roughly 18-month journey before it reaches your screen:
Month 1–4 (Theme & Scoping): The HDRO announces the theme (e.g., the 2026 "Planetary" theme was announced in January 2026).
Month 5–12 (Regional Consultations): Experts meet in cities like Istanbul, Nairobi, and New York to ensure the report reflects diverse global perspectives.
Month 13–16 (Data Harmonization): The team works with agencies like UNESCO and the World Bank to finalize the statistical tables for 190+ countries.
Month 17–18 (Launch & Translation): The report is translated into all official UN languages and launched at a major global event.
4. Secondary Publications
Beyond the main flagship, the UNDP releases critical sub-reports throughout the year:
The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): Usually launched in October (around the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty).
National & Regional HDRs: Individual countries (like Lesotho or India) often release their own localized versions 1–3 months after the global launch to apply the findings to their specific domestic context.
UNDP Human Development Report (HDR): Frequently Asked Questions
As the world’s most cited analysis of global progress, the HDR often raises complex questions about how we measure "success" beyond the stock market. Below are the most frequent inquiries regarding the flagship report and its methodology.
1. How is the Human Development Index (HDI) actually calculated?
The HDI is a geometric mean of normalized indices for three key dimensions:
Health: Measured by Life Expectancy at Birth.
Education: Measured by Mean Years of Schooling (for adults 25+) and Expected Years of Schooling (for children).
Standard of Living: Measured by Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).
2. What is the difference between HDI and GDP?
While GDP (Gross Domestic Product) measures the total monetary value of goods and services produced, the HDI focuses on people and their capabilities.
The "Gap" Insight: A country can have a very high GDP but a lower HDI if its wealth is not invested in healthcare or schools. For example, the HDR often highlights how countries with similar income levels achieve vastly different health and education outcomes.
3. What is the "Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI" (PHDI)?
Introduced in the 2020 report and a major focus of the 2026 flagship, the PHDI "discounts" a country's HDI score based on its environmental impact.
The Adjustment: It uses Carbon Dioxide Emissions per capita and Material Footprint per capita.
The Result: High-income nations often see their rankings drop significantly under this metric, highlighting that their "development" may be unsustainable for the planet.
4. Why is there a "data lag" in the reports?
The 2025 HDR (launched in May 2025) contains data primarily from 2023. This is because it takes nearly two years for the UN’s partner agencies (UNESCO, World Bank, WHO) to collect, verify, and standardize statistics from over 190 countries to ensure the report is globally comparable and scientifically accurate.
5. What are the "Trilogy" reports (2024–2026)?
The UNDP organized a specialized series of three reports to address the "uncertainty complex" of the mid-2020s:
2023-2024: Focused on Political Polarization (Breaking the Gridlock).
2025: Focused on Artificial Intelligence (A Matter of Choice).
2026: Focused on Planetary Futures (An Aspirational Approach).
6. Can a country’s rank drop even if its score improves?
Yes. Because the HDI is a relative ranking, a country’s position depends on how it performs compared to others. If other nations improve their education or health systems faster, a country may slide down the list even if its own citizens are living longer, healthier lives than the year before.
Glossary of Human Development Terms
| Term | Definition | Key Metric / Component |
| Human Development Index (HDI) | A summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. | Life expectancy, Schooling years, GNI per capita |
| Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI) | An HDI value adjusted by a country's level of carbon dioxide emissions and material footprint to reflect environmental costs. | $CO_{2}$ emissions, Material footprint |
| Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) | Identifies multiple deprivations at the household and individual level in health, education, and standard of living. | Nutrition, Schooling, Housing, Assets |
| Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI) | The HDI value adjusted for inequalities in the distribution of health, education, and income among a population. | Atkinson Inequality Index |
| Gender Development Index (GDI) | Measures gender gaps in human development achievements by calculating the ratio of female to male HDI. | Female vs. Male HDI ratio |
| Gender Inequality Index (GII) | A composite metric highlighting the loss in human development due to inequality between female and male achievements. | Reproductive health, Empowerment, Labour market |
| Gross National Income (GNI) | The total domestic and foreign output claimed by residents of a country, including incomes earned abroad. | Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) |
| Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) | An exchange rate adjustment that allows for a more accurate comparison of living standards by accounting for the cost of goods. | International Dollars ($) |
| Expected Years of Schooling | Number of years a child of school entrance age is expected to spend in education under current enrollment patterns. | School enrollment rates |
| Mean Years of Schooling | Average number of years of education received by people ages 25 and older in their lifetime. | Educational attainment levels |
| Life Expectancy at Birth | Number of years a newborn infant could expect to live if prevailing patterns of age-specific mortality rates stay the same. | Mortality statistics |
| Agency | The ability of individuals to make choices and to transform those choices into desired outcomes (Core 2025–2026 theme). | Qualitative & Policy indicators |
| Polycrisis | A term describing the interlocking nature of global shocks, such as climate change, conflict, debt, and digital disruption. | Risk & Resilience metrics |
