The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) uses three attributes to measure the Human Development Index (HDI) of a country.
(1) A long and healthy life which is measured through the expected life expectancy at birth. This provides an idea of the health of a country’s citizens. Better nutrition and a disease-free childhood lead to healthy adults who are workers with higher productivity and an asset to the nation’s workforce.
(2) Education Index which is measured by the mean years of schooling of people aged 25 years and above. This allows one to understand the knowledge level possessed by the workforce in a country and an indicator of the country’s education-based development requirements.
(3) A decent standard of living which is measured by the Gross National Income or per capita income. This allows one to understand the purchasing power possessed by the citizens in a country. It also allows authorities to categorize countries on a development scale. Higher the per capita income, higher is the country’s development.
The above three attributes present an all-round development picture for respective countries. It does not present a clear picture, and further study is needed to locate the problem areas and provide solutions that are country specific.
