The UN Human Development Index (HDI) measures poverty, literacy, education, life expectancy, and other factors. It is a standard means of measuring well-being, especially child welfare. The index was developed in 1990 by the Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq, and has been used since 1993 by the United Nations Development Programme in its annual report. Poverty is the state of being without, often associated with need, hardship and lack of resources across a wide range of circumstances. ... Literacy is the ability to read and write. ... Life expectancy is the most likely number of years remaining for a living being (or the average for a class of living beings) of a given age to live. ... The well-being or quality of life of a population is an important concern in economics and political science. ... A male Caucasian toddler child A child (plural: children) is a young human. ... Welfare economics is a branch of economics that uses microeconomic techniques to simultaneously determine the allocational efficiency of a macroeconomy and the income distribution consequences associated with it. ... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Economics (deriving from the Greek words οίκω [okos], house, and νέμω [nemo], rules hence household management) is the social science that studies the allocation of scarce resources to satisfy unlimited wants. ... Mahbub ul Haq (February 22, 1934 - July 16, 1998) was an influential Pakistani economist. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the largest multilateral source of grant technical assistance in the world. ...

The HDI measures the average achievements in a country in three basic dimensions of human development:

• A long and healthy life, as measured by life expectancy at birth.
• Knowledge, as measured by the adult literacy rate (with two-thirds weight) and the combined primary, secondary and tertiary gross enrollment ratio (with one-third weight).
• A decent standard of living, as measured by GDP per capita (PPP USD).

Each year, countries are ranked according to these measures. Those high on the list often brag about it, as a means of attracting talented migrants (economically, individual capital) or discouraging potential emigrants from leaving. Life expectancy is the most likely number of years remaining for a living being (or the average for a class of living beings) of a given age to live. ... Literacy is the ability to read and write. ... In economics, purchasing power parity (PPP) is a method used to calculate an alternative exchange rate between the currencies of two countries. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... Individual capital comprises inalienable or personal traits of persons, tied to their bodies and available only through their own free will, such as skill, creativity, enterprise, courage, capacity for moral example, non-communicable wisdom, invention or empathy, non-transferable personal trust and leadership. ...

2004 report

Top thirty countries

HDI in differents countries of world, around 2005

(Note the similarity between this list and that of developed countries.) Download high resolution version (960x779, 202 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (960x779, 202 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... A developed country enjoys a relatively high standard of living through a strong high-technology diversified economy. ...

Most of the data used for the 2004 report came from 2001 and 2002. 19 of the bottom 20 countries are in Africa. However, not all UN member states choose to or are able to provide the necessary statistics. Notable absences from the list include Iraq, Somalia, and North Korea. Flag of Norway, large The Norwegian flag is high red with a white-bordered, dark blue cross. ... Large flag of Sweden Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... Australian National Flag For more information, see Australian Government, Flying the Flag - Its an Honour!. Created by User:E Pluribus Anthony File links The following pages link to this file: Australia Politics of Australia Ashmore and Cartier Islands Australian Labor Party Australian Democrats Australian Capital Territory Talk:Australian rules... National Flag of Canada / lUnifolié For more information, see Department of Canadian Heritage and Image_talk:Canada_flag_large. ... Large flag of the Netherlands. ... General info: Large flag of Belgium Dimensions: 348x302 pixels Source: Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook License: originally public domain, modifications under GFDL Most of the flags have had their colours improved and many have been resized to the proper ratios. ... Image replaced by commons:The Civil flag of Iceland. ... Download high resolution version (1520x800, 18 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Large flag of Japan (10:7 (length:width) white rectangle with a centered red circle with a diameter of 3/5 of the width) Dimensions as stated and colors as used on the Homepage of the Japanese embassy to germany. ... File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Arsenal F.C. Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic Charlton Athletic F.C. Chelsea F.C. European Union Estonia European Parliament Talk:European Union European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and... Flag of Switzerland Template:Unverfied File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Aargau European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Switzerland Alpine skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics Cross-country skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics Ski jumping... Union Flag / Union Jack: Flag of the United Kingdom For more information, see Court of the Lord Lyon, Flags. ... Categories: European countries | United Kingdom | British Isles | Monarchies | European Union member states | Members of the Commonwealth of Nations ... File links The following pages link to this file: Austria AZ Alkmaar Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic Charlton Athletic F.C. Chelsea F.C. European Union Estonia European Parliament Talk:European Union European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and European... Fixed size, hues based on World Flag Database. ... Headline text File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic European Union Estonia European Parliament Talk:European Union European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats Finland France Germany Economy of Germany... Tricolore of France Created by User:Anthony S. Tsoumbris French Tricolore flag File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam A.S. Roma A.C. Milan Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic Corsica Chelsea F.C. European Union Estonia European... General info: Large civil flag of Denmark Dimensions: 399x302 pixels Source: Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook License: Originally public domain, modifications under GFDL Most of the flags have had their colours improved and many have been resized to the proper ratios. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Helen Clark, Prime Minister New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Source: Sodipodis Clipart Gallery. ... Download high resolution version (1200x800, 1 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Arsenal F.C. A.S. Roma A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. European Union Estonia European Parliament Talk:European Union... Large Flag of Israel File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... A Special Administrative Region (SAR) (Simplified Chinese: 特别行政区; Traditional Chinese: 特別行政區; pinyin: tèbié xíngzhèngqū; Cantonese IPA: /tɐk6piːt6 hɐŋ4tsɪŋ3kʰɵy1/; Jyutping: dak6bit6 hang4zing3keoi1; Yale: dahkbiht hàhngjingkeūi) is a political subdivision of the Peoples Republic of China. ... In the technical terminology of political science the PRC was a communist state for much of the 20th century, and is still considered a communist state by many, though not all, political scientists. ... Large flag of Greece Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... Large flag of Singapore Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... File links The following pages link to this file: Austria A.C. Milan Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic Chelsea F.C. European Union Estonia European Parliament Talk:European Union European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats Finland France Fulham F.C. Football World Cup... Large Flag of Slovenia, originally from flags of the CIA World Factbook, 2004. ... Taegeukgi: National Flag of Republic of Korea For more information, see Cheong Wa Dae, Office of the President, Republic of Korea. ... Fixes are based on World Flag Database. ... General info: Large flag of Cyprus Dimensions: 503x302 pixels Source: Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook License: Originally public domain, modifications under GFDL Most of the flags have had their colours improved and many have been resized to the proper ratios. ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Africa is the worlds second-largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ...

Bottom ten countries

General info: Large flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Dimensions: 453x302 pixels Source: Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook License: Originally public domain, modifications under GFDL Most of the flags have had their colours improved and many have been resized to... General info: Large flag of Central African Republic Dimensions: 503x302 pixels Source: Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook License: Originally public domain, modifications under GFDL Most of the flags have had their colours improved and many have been resized to the proper ratios. ... Look up Central African Republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Government Republique Centrafricaine official government site (in French) News allAfrica - Central African Republic news headline links Overviews BBC News - Country Profile: Central African Republic CIA World Factbook - Central African Republic Directories LookSmart - Central African Republic directory category Open Directory Project... File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Large flag of Guinea-Bissau Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... Fixed outer edges, proportions, hues based on World Flag Database. ... Large flag of Mali Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... General info: Large flag of Burkina Faso Dimensions: 453x302 pixels Source: Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook License: originally public domain, modifications under GFDL Most of the flags have had their colours improved and many have been resized to the proper ratios. ... Look up Burkina Faso in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Government Premier Ministère official government portal (in French) Embassy of Burkina Faso in Washington, DC government information and links News allAfrica - Burkina Faso news headline links Overviews BBC News - Country Profile: Burkina Faso CIA World Factbook - Burkina Faso Directories LookSmart... Large flag of Niger Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... Large flag of Sierra Leone Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... Look up Sierra Leone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Government The Republic of Sierra Leone official government site News allAfrica. ...

Top/bottom three countries by continent

Past top countries

The number one ranked country in each year of the index.

• 2004 – Norway
• 2003 – Norway
• 2002 – Norway
• 2001 – Norway
• 2000 – Canada
• 1999 – Canada
• 1998 – Canada
• 1997 – Canada
• 1996 – Canada
• 1995 – Norway
• 1994 – Canada
• 1993 – Japan
• 1992 – Canada
• 1991 – Japan
• 1990 – Canada
• 1985 – Canada
• 1980 – Switzerland

2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday of the Common Era, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...

See also

• United Nations
• Gini coefficient
• Physical quality-of-life index

The United Nations, or UN, is an international organization established in 1945 and now made up of 191 states. ... The Gini coefficient is a measure of inequality developed by the Italian statistician Corrado Gini and published in his 1912 paper Variabilità e mutabilità. It is usually used to measure income inequality, but can be used to measure any form of uneven distribution. ... The physical quality-of-life index (PQLI) is an attempt to measure the quality of life or well-being of a country. ...

External links

• Human Development Report Office (http://hdr.undp.org/)
• 2004 UN Human Development Index Report (PDF) (http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2004/pdf/hdr04_HDI.pdf)