The correct answer is: D) All of the above
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators, which are used to rank countries into four tiers of human development. A country scores higher if it performs better on these indicators.
The HDI was developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1990. It is used to measure a country’s level of human development and to track progress over time. The HDI is not a perfect measure, but it is a useful tool for comparing countries and for understanding the factors that contribute to human development.
The HDI is calculated by taking the average of three indicators: life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, and gross national income per capita, adjusted for purchasing power parity. The indicators are weighted equally, and the HDI is expressed on a scale from 0 to 1, with 1 being the highest possible score.
The HDI has been criticized for being too simplistic and for not taking into account other important factors, such as gender equality, inequality, and environmental sustainability. However, the HDI remains a widely used measure of human development.
In 2020, the top 10 countries with the highest HDI were:
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Denmark
- Finland
- Australia
- Netherlands
- Luxembourg
- Sweden
The bottom 10 countries with the lowest HDI were:
- Central African Republic
- Niger
- South Sudan
- Chad
- Somalia
- Mozambique
- Liberia
- Guinea-Bissau
- Sierra Leone
- Burundi
The HDI has been increasing over time, but the progress has been uneven. The gap between the richest and poorest countries has been widening. The HDI is a useful tool for understanding the factors that contribute to human development, but it is important to remember that it is just one measure. Other factors, such as gender equality, inequality, and environmental sustainability, are also important.