Human Development Report (HDR) 2025

India ranked 130th on the Human Development Index (HDI), out of 193 countries and territories, according to the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) released on 6 May by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

• The report was released with titled ‘A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of Artificial Intelligence.’

India’s HDI Rank and Score (2023):

• Climbed four spots to 130th out of 193 countries.
• HDI score increased from 0.644 (2022) to 0.685 (2023).
• Still in the medium human development category.

Driving Factors for Improvement:

• Gains in health, education, and income indicators.

Comparison with Bangladesh:

• Same HDI value as Bangladesh (0.685), but differences in key metrics.

Health Metrics:

• Life expectancy rose to 72 years (from 67.7 years in 2022).

Education Metrics:

• Expected years of schooling: Increased to 13 (from 12.6).
• Average years of schooling: Increased to 6.9 (from 6.57).

Income Metric:

• Per capita Gross National Income (GNI) (PPP 2021): Increased from $6,951 to $9,047.

Inequality-Adjusted HDI (IHDI):

• Drops to 0.475 after adjustment — a 30.66% decline, reflecting disparities.

Gender Inequality and Development:

• Gender Development Index (GDI): 0.874.
  • Women: 0.631, Men: 0.722.
• Gender Inequality Index (GII): 0.403, ranked 102nd globally.
  • Indicates issues in reproductive health, political representation, and workforce participation.

Top and Bottom HDI Rankings (2023):

• Top:
  • 1st: Iceland (0.972)
  • Followed by: Norway and Switzerland
• Bottom:
  • 193rd: South Sudan (0.388)