HDI Rankings

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite statistic of life

expectancy, education, and income indices used to rank countries into four
tiers of human development.
1. Norway
HDI (2013): 0.944
Life expectancy (2013): 81.5
Mean years of schooling (2011): 12.6
Expected years of schooling (2012): 17.6
GNI per capita (2011 PPP$) 2013: 63, 909
Norway has the highest GNI per capita adjusted to the PPP in the ranking,
aside from Singapore, leading to a high ranking. Australia, ranked below
Norway, has $20,000 less in GNI per capita. It also has close to the highest
number of years of schooling.
15. Hong Kong
HDI (2013): 0.891
Life expectancy (2013): 83.4
Mean years of schooling (2011): 10
Expected years of schooling (2012): 15.6
GNI per capita (2011 PPP$) 2013: 52,383
Hong Kong has the highest life expectancy in the world, with also a very high
GNI per capita adjusted to PPP, leading to a high ranking. Hong Kongs
ranking can be improved by improving the education system, increasing the
mean years of schooling, because it is low compared to countries at around
the same rank.
40. UAE
HDI (2013): 0.827
Life expectancy (2013): 76.8
Mean years of schooling (2011): 9.1
Expected years of schooling (2012): 13.3
GNI per capita (2011 PPP$) 2013: 58,068
The UAE has a very high GNI per capita adjusted to PPP, leading to a ranking
of very high human development overall. The UAE can improve its ranking

by improving the mean years of education, because it is relatively low for a

country with high human development.
91. China
HDI (2013): 0.719
Life expectancy (2013): 75.3
Mean years of schooling (2011): 7.5
Expected years of schooling (2012): 12.9
GNI per capita (2011 PPP$) 2013: 11,477
China has a ranking of high human development, with a higher GNI per
capita adjusted to PPP, compared to countries with similar ranking. However,
there is large disparity within China, as there is a high human development
in large cities, and low development in rural areas. To improve its ranking,
China can improve its mean years of schooling and life expectancy.
141. Zambia
HDI (2013): 0.561
Life expectancy (2013): 58.1
Mean years of schooling (2011): 6.5
Expected years of schooling (2012): 13.5
GNI per capita (2011 PPP$) 2013: 2,898
Zambia has a high mean years of schooling compared to countries with a
similar HDI ranking, however it has a lower GNI per capita adjusted to PPP,
leading to a medium level of human development. Zambia can improve its
life expectancy, because its low compared to countries with a similar
ranking.
187. Niger
HDI (2013): 0.337
Life expectancy (2013): 58.4
Mean years of schooling (2011): 1.4
Expected years of schooling (2012): 5.4
GNI per capita (2011 PPP$) 2013: 873
Niger has the lowest number of mean years of schooling of all countries on
the list and has also one of the lowest GNI per capita adjusted to PPP, leading
to the lowest ranking in the world, with low human development. Niger

should improve all three areas of the HDI ranking to improve its ranking
overall.

Overall, countries with high development in all three areas of the HDI have a
high ranking overall. However there are some countries with a abnormally
high ranking due to their high GNI per capita, however this does not indicate
the disparities in the country, and the standard of living in some of these
countries may be lower than countries with a similar ranking.