what is hdi

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistical tool used to measure a countrys overall achievement in its social and economic dimensions. It was created by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq in 1990 and is used by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to measure various countries’ levels of social and economic development. The HDI is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development, including a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and having a decent standard of living. The HDI is calculated using four major indicators: life expectancy for health, expected years of schooling, mean years of schooling for education, and Gross National Income per capita for standard of living. The scores for the three HDI dimension indices are then aggregated into a composite index using geometric mean. The HDI can be used to question national policy choices and stimulate debate about government policy priorities. However, it is important to note that the HDI simplifies and captures only part of what human development entails and does not reflect all aspects of human development.