List of countries by Human Development Index

Wikimedia list article

This is a list of all countries by Human Development Index as included in a United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report (released on 15 December 2020), put together based on estimates for 2019. It covers 187 member states of the United Nations (out of 193), along with Hong Kong (of the People's Republic of China), and the Palestinian territories; 6 UN member states are not included because there is not enough data. The average HDI of regions of the World and groups of countries are also included for comparison.

World map indicating the categories of Human Development Index by country (based on 2019 data, published on 15 December 2020).
  Very high
  High
  Medium
  Low
  Data unavailable

World map indicating the Human Development Index (based on 2019 data, published on 15 December 2020).
  ≥ 0.900
  0.850–0.899
  0.800–0.849
  0.750–0.799
  0.700–0.749
  0.650–0.699
  0.600–0.649
  0.550–0.599
  0.500–0.549
  0.450–0.499
  0.400–0.449
  ≤ 0.399
  Data unavailable

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education and standards of living for countries worldwide. It is a standard way of measuring well-being, especially child welfare. It is used to distinguish whether the country is a developed, a developing or an under-developed country, and also to measure the effect of economic policies on quality of life. The index was developed in 1990 by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq[1] and Indian economist Amartya Sen.[2]

Countries fall into four wide human development categories: Very High Human Development (66 countries), High Human Development (53 countries), Medium Human Development (37 countries) and Low Human Development (36 countries).

From 2007 to 2010, the first two categories was referred to as developed countries, and the last two are all grouped in developing countries. The original "high human development" category has been split into two as above in the report for 2007.

Some older groupings (high/medium/low income countries) that have been removed were based on the gross domestic product (GDP) in purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, and have been replaced by another index based on the gross national income (GNI) in purchasing power parity per capita.

Complete list of countries change

  •   = increase.
  •   = steady.
  •   = decrease.
Rank Country or Territory HDI
2019 data (2020 report)[3] Change over 5 years (2014)[3] 2019 data (2020 report)[3] Average change per year (2010-2019)[4]
Very high human development
1     Norway 0.957   0.20%
2   (7)   Ireland 0.955   0.65%
2      Switzerland 0.955   0.16%
4   (7)   Hong Kong 0.949   0.54%
4   (4)   Iceland 0.949   0.62%
6   (3)   Germany 0.947   0.24%
7   (3)   Sweden 0.945   0.41%
8   (2)   Australia 0.944   0.17%
8   (1)   Netherlands 0.944   0.32%
10   (6)   Denmark 0.940   0.28%
11   (2)   Finland 0.938   0.26%
11     Singapore 0.938   0.35%
13     United Kingdom 0.932   0.24%
14   (1)   Belgium 0.931   0.25%
14   (3)   New Zealand 0.931   0.30%
16   (1)   Canada 0.929   0.34%
17   (3)   United States 0.926   0.12%
18     Austria 0.922   0.22%
19   (1)   Israel 0.919   0.29%
19   (2)   Japan 0.919   0.39%
19     Liechtenstein 0.919   0.18%
22   (2)   Slovenia 0.917   0.35%
23   (1)   South Korea 0.916   0.33%
23     Luxembourg 0.916   0.22%
25   (1)   Spain 0.904   0.40%
26   (1)   France 0.901   0.28%
27   (1)   Czechia 0.900   0.38%
28   (2)   Malta 0.895   0.54%
29   (2)   Estonia 0.892   0.51%
29   (1)   Italy 0.892   0.16%
31   (6)   United Arab Emirates 0.890   0.91%
32   (3)   Greece 0.888   0.29%
33     Cyprus 0.887   0.40%
34     Lithuania 0.882   0.66%
35     Poland 0.880   0.52%
36   (4)   Andorra 0.868   0.40%
37   (3)   Latvia 0.866   0.55%
38   (1)   Portugal 0.864   0.46%
39   (2)   Slovakia 0.860   0.38%
40   (1)   Hungary 0.854   0.30%
40   (4)   Saudi Arabia 0.854   0.60%
42   (6)   Bahrain 0.852   0.70%
43     Chile 0.851   0.65%
43   (2)   Croatia 0.851   0.48%
45     Qatar 0.848   0.19%
46   (2)   Argentina 0.845   0.21%
47   (6)   Brunei 0.838   0.15%
48   (2)   Montenegro 0.829   0.37%
49   (2)   Romania 0.828   0.31%
50   (3)   Palau 0.826   0.55%
51   (7)   Kazakhstan 0.825   0.86%
52   (1)   Russia 0.824   0.60%
53   (4)   Belarus 0.823   0.39%
54   (5)   Turkey 0.820   1.16%
55   (1)   Uruguay 0.817   0.49%
56   (2)   Bulgaria 0.816   0.39%
57   (5)   Panama 0.815   0.58%
58   (3)   Bahamas 0.814   0.12%
58   (6)   Barbados 0.814   0.23%
60   (3)   Oman 0.813   0.43%
61   (7)   Georgia 0.812   0.87%
62   (3)   Costa Rica 0.810   0.64%
62   (1)   Malaysia 0.810   0.54%
64   (5)   Kuwait 0.806   0.25%
64   (3)   Serbia 0.806   0.57%
66   (2)   Mauritius 0.804   0.76%
High human development
67   (2)   Seychelles 0.796   0.46%
67   (1)   Trinidad and Tobago 0.796   0.17%
69   (4)   Albania 0.795   0.72%
70   (5)   Cuba 0.783   0.03%
70   (1)   Iran 0.783   0.60%
72     Sri Lanka 0.782   0.41%
73   (8)   Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.780   0.88%
74   (2)   Grenada 0.779   0.36%
74   (4)   Mexico 0.779   0.45%
74     Saint Kitts and Nevis 0.779   0.48%
74   (1)   Ukraine 0.779   0.35%
78   (1)   Antigua and Barbuda 0.778   0.22%
79     Peru 0.777   0.83%
79   (8)   Thailand 0.777   0.79%
81   (4)   Armenia 0.776   0.42%
82   (2)   North Macedonia 0.774   0.46%
83   (2)   Colombia 0.767   0.57%
84   (2)   Brazil 0.765   0.57%
85   (12)   China 0.761   0.95%
86   (4)   Ecuador 0.759   0.50%
86   (6)   Saint Lucia 0.759   0.43%
88   (1)   Azerbaijan 0.756   0.45%
88   (10)   Dominican Republic 0.756   0.76%
90     Moldova 0.750   0.56%
91     Algeria 0.748   0.41%
92   (6)   Lebanon 0.744   0.32%
93   (1)   Fiji 0.743   0.43%
94   (6)   Dominica 0.742   0.03%
95   (8)   Maldives 0.740   0.86%
95   (7)   Tunisia 0.740   0.37%
97   (3)   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0.738   0.31%
97   (5)   Suriname 0.738   0.43%
99   (3)   Mongolia 0.737   0.64%
100   (5)   Botswana 0.735   1.15%
101   (2)   Jamaica 0.734   0.03%
102   (3)   Jordan 0.729   0.12%
103   (1)   Paraguay 0.728   0.50%
104   (2)   Tonga 0.725   0.41%
105   (4)   Libya 0.724   1.08%
106   (4)   Uzbekistan 0.720   0.82%
107   (6)   Bolivia 0.718   0.82%
107   (6)   Indonesia 0.718   0.86%
107   (3)   Philippines 0.718   0.76%
110   (3)   Belize 0.716   0.33%
111   (3)   Samoa 0.715   0.27%
111   (4)   Turkmenistan 0.715   0.79%
113   (44)   Venezuela 0.711   0.69%
114   (2)   South Africa 0.709   0.73%
115   (6)   Palestine 0.708   0.38%
116   (1)   Egypt 0.707   0.63%
117 NA[a]   Marshall Islands 0.704 NA[5]
117   (1)   Vietnam 0.704   0.70%
119     Gabon 0.703   0.84%
Medium human development
120   (4)   Kyrgyzstan 0.697   0.57%
121   (2)   Morocco 0.686   1.20%
122   (2)   Guyana 0.682   0.55%
123   (4)   Iraq 0.674   0.65%
124   (3)   El Salvador 0.673   0.08%
125   (2)   Tajikistan 0.668   0.51%
126   (4)   Cape Verde 0.665   0.57%
127   (1)   Guatemala 0.663   1.00%
128   (3)   Nicaragua 0.660   0.66%
129   (1)   Bhutan 0.654   1.46%
130   (2)   Namibia 0.646   1.03%
131   (1)   India 0.645   1.21%
132     Honduras 0.634   0.43%
133   (8)   Bangladesh 0.632   1.41%
134   (3)   Kiribati 0.630   0.67%
135   (1)   Sao Tome and Principe 0.625   1.21%
136   (2)   Micronesia 0.620   0.35%
137   (1)   Laos 0.613   1.17%
138   (5)   Eswatini 0.611   2.03%
138   (1)   Ghana 0.611   0.87%
140   (5)   Vanuatu 0.609   0.35%
141   (12)   East Timor 0.606   0.40%
142       Nepal 0.602   1.28%
143   (3)   Kenya 0.601   0.97%
144     Cambodia 0.594   1.09%
145   (6)   Equatorial Guinea 0.592   0.30%
146     Zambia 0.584   1.15%
147   (3)   Myanmar 0.583   1.39%
148   (4)   Angola 0.581   1.31%
149   (2)   Congo, Republic of the 0.574   1.10%
150   (1)   Zimbabwe 0.571   1.90%
151   (3)   Solomon Islands 0.567   0.61%
151   (2)   Syria 0.567   1.87%
153   (1)   Cameroon 0.563   1.22%
154   (2)   Pakistan 0.557   0.94%
155   (2)   Papua New Guinea 0.555   0.68%
156   (4)   Comoros 0.554   0.68%
Low human development
157   (2)   Mauritania 0.546   0.87%
158   (1)   Benin 0.545   1.10%
159   (2)   Uganda 0.544   0.99%
160   (1)   Rwanda 0.543   1.10%
161   (3)   Nigeria 0.539   1.25%
162   (7)   Ivory Coast 0.538   1.56%
163   (1)   Tanzania 0.529   1.06%
164   (4)   Madagascar 0.528   0.36%
165   (2)   Lesotho 0.527   1.52%
166   (3)   Djibouti 0.524   1.61%
167   (1)   Togo 0.515   1.12%
168   (3)   Senegal 0.512   1.00%
169   (5)   Afghanistan 0.511   0.89%
170   (1)   Haiti 0.510   0.89%
170   (5)   Sudan 0.510   0.94%
172   (1)   Gambia 0.496   0.87%
173   (5)   Ethiopia 0.485   1.58%
174     Malawi 0.483   1.27%
175     Congo, Democratic Republic of the 0.480   1.10%
175   (1)   Guinea-Bissau 0.480   1.07%
175   (3)   Liberia 0.480   0.60%
178   (1)   Guinea 0.477   1.53%
179   (16)   Yemen 0.470   0.82%
180   (3)   Eritrea 0.459   0.57%
181   (2)   Mozambique 0.456   1.44%
182   (3)   Burkina Faso 0.452   1.83%
182   (2)   Sierra Leone 0.452   1.40%
184     Mali 0.434   0.69%
185   (5)   Burundi 0.433   0.58%
185   (3)   South Sudan 0.433   0.61%
187   (1)   Chad 0.398   0.84%
188   (1)   Central African Republic 0.397   0.94%
189   (1)   Niger 0.394   1.95%


List of countries by continent change

Africa change

Asia change

Europe change

North America and the Caribbean change

Oceania change

Rank Country HDI
New 2020 estimates for 2019
Very high human development
1   Australia 0.944
2   New Zealand 0.931
3   Palau 0.826
High human development
4   Fiji 0.743
5   Tonga 0.725
6   Samoa 0.715
7   Marshall Islands 0.704
Medium human development
8   Kiribati 0.630
9   Micronesia 0.620
10   Vanuatu 0.609
11   Solomon Islands 0.567
12   Papua New Guinea 0.555

South America change

Rank Country HDI
New 2020 estimates for 2019
Very high human development
1   Chile 0.851
2   Argentina 0.845
3   Uruguay 0.817
High human development
4   Peru 0.777
5   Colombia 0.767
6   Brazil 0.765
7   Ecuador 0.759
8   Suriname 0.738
9   Paraguay 0.728
10   Bolivia 0.718
11   Venezuela 0.711
Medium human development
12   Guyana 0.682

List of countries by intercontinental region change

Arab League change

Commonwealth of Nations change

East Asia and the Pacific change

European Union change

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation change

OECD change

Small Island Developing States change

HDI by regions and groups change

Countries missing from latest report change

UN member states (latest UNDP data) change

Year Country HDI Rank Source
Publication Data
Very high human development
2009 2008   San Marino 0.961 21 [9]
2009 2008   Monaco 0.956 25 [9]
High human development
2009 2008   Marshall Islands 0.738 155 [9]
2009 2008   North Korea 0.733 156 [9]
2009 2008   Nauru 0.721 164 [9]
2009 2008   Tuvalu 0.711 168 [9]
Low human development
2009 2008   Somalia 0.364 229 [9]

Note: 2009 publication uses old HDI formula

Non-UN member states (latest UNDP data) change

Year Country or territory HDI Rank Source
Publication Data
High human development
2016   Kosovo 0.739 [10]

Non-UN members (not calculated by the UNDP) change

Year Country or territory HDI Rank Source
Publication Data
Very high human development
2017 2015   Macau 0.905 17 [b]
2017 2015   Taiwan 0.885 27 [c]
2017 2015   Puerto Rico 0.845 40 [14]
2012 2010   Guadeloupe 0.822 39 [15]
2012 2010   Martinique 0.813 41 [15]
2009 2008   Jersey 0.985 2 [9]
2009 2008   Cayman Islands 0.983 4 [9]
2009 2008   Bermuda 0.981 7 [9]
2009 2008   Guernsey 0.975 9 [9]
2009 2008   Gibraltar 0.961 20 [9]
2009 2008   Norfolk Island 0.958 23 [9]
2009 2008   Faroe Islands 0.950 33 [9]
2009 2008   Isle of Man 0.950 34 [9]
2009 2008   British Virgin Islands 0.945 35 [9]
2009 2008   Falkland Islands 0.933 43 [9]
2009 2008   Aruba 0.908 49 [9]
2009 2008   Guam 0.901 54 [9]
High human development
2012 2010   New Caledonia 0.789 51 [15]
2012 2010   Wallis and Futuna 0.763 65 [15]
2012 2010   Saint Pierre and Miquelon 0.762 66 [15]
2012 2010   Réunion 0.750 72 [15]
2012 2010   French Guiana 0.739 76 [15]
2012 2010   French Polynesia 0.737 77 [15]
2012 2010 Saint Martin 0.702 n/a [15]
2009 2008   U.S. Virgin Islands 0.894 59 [9]
2009 2008   Northern Mariana Islands 0.875 71 [9]
2009 2008   Turks and Caicos Islands 0.873 72 [9]
2009 2008   Greenland 0.869 76 [9]
2009 2008   Anguilla 0.865 79 [9]
2009 2008   Cook Islands 0.829 101 [9]
2009 2008   American Samoa 0.827 103 [9]
2009 2008   Montserrat 0.821 106 [9]
Medium human development
2012 2010   Saint Barthélemy 0.688 n/a [15]
2012 2010   Mayotte 0.653 104 [15]
2009 2008   Saint Helena 0.797 125 [9]
2009 2008   Niue 0.794 129 [9]
2009 2008   Tokelau 0.750 149 [9]

Notes change

  1. Data not available before 2017
  2. The UN does not calculate the HDI of Macau. The government of Macau calculates its own HDI.[11]
  3. The UN does not recognize the Republic of China (Taiwan) as a sovereign state. The HDI report does not include Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China when calculating China's figures (see[12]). Taiwan's government calculated its HDI to be 0.885, based on 2010 new methodology of UNDP.[13]

References change

  1. "History of the Human Development Report". United Nations Development Programme. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
  2. "The Human Development concept". UNDP. 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Nations, United (15 December 2020). Human Development Report 2020 The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. pp. 343–346. ISBN 978-92-1-126442-5. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  4. Data not available before 2017
  5. "2011 Human Development Report". United Nations Development Programme. p. 151. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  6. "The 2013 Human Development Report – "The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World"". HDRO (Human Development Report Office) United Nations Development Programme. pp. 144–147. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  7. "Human Development Report 2014 – "Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Building Resilience"". HDRO (Human Development Report Office) United Nations Development Programme. January 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  8. 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16 9.17 9.18 9.19 9.20 9.21 9.22 9.23 9.24 9.25 9.26 9.27 9.28 9.29 Filling Gaps in the Human Development Index Archived 5 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, United Nations ESCAP, February 2009
  9. "About Kosovo". UNDP. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  10. "DSEC - 統計資料". www.dsec.gov.mo.
  11. "- Human Development Reports" (PDF). hdr.undp.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  12. "2017中華民國人類發展指數(HDI)" (Excel) (in Chinese). Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, Executive Yuan, R.O.C. 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  13. Fuentes-Ramírez, Ricardo R. (2017). "Human Development Index Trends and Inequality in Puerto Rico 2010-2015". Ceteris Paribus: Journal of Socio-Economic Research. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  14. 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 Quel niveau de développement humain dans les outre-mer?, Agence Française de Developpment, 2012 (in French)