Coloured world map indicating Human Development Index (2006)
| 0.950 and over
0.900–0.949 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 |
0.350–0.399 0.300–0.349 under 0.300 not available |
(colour-blind compliant
map)
This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in
the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report 2006, compiled on the basis of
2004 data. It covers 175 UN member countries
(out of 192), along with: Hong Kong (SAR of China) and PA-governed territories. 17 UN member countries are not included due to lack of data. The
average HDI of regions of the World and groups of countries are also included for comparison.
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 means
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 impact of economic policies on quality of life. The index was developed in
1990 by Pakistani economist
Mahbub ul Haq.[1]
Countries fall into three broad categories based on their HDI: high, medium, and low human development. The arrows show the change
in HDI from 2005 values.
List of countries
=steady 
=increase 
=decrease (in HDI)
High
(figures in parentheses indicate the change in rank)
Medium
=steady 
=increase 
=decrease (in HDI)
