Bangladesh climbs three spots on UN Human Development Index

Bangladesh has moved three spots up in the Global Human Development Index (HDI) 2018 to rank 136th out of 189 countries, according to the latest Human Development Report.

According to the annual report published by the United Nations on Friday, Bangladesh is considered a ‘medium development country’ and achieved an HDI value of 0.608 in 2017. 

 

Bangladesh’s average annual HDI growth rate from 1990-2000 also compares favourably to all other South Asian countries, coming in at 1.93 percent. India’s, for comparison, was 1.45 percent.

 

“Life expectancy at birth in Bangladesh stood at 72.3 years , expected years of schooling at 11.4 years, mean years of schooling 5.8 years, gross national income or GNI per capita $ 3,677,” reads HDR 2018.

 

Bangladesh’s HDR ranking, however, is still fifth among South Asian nations, behind Sri Lanka at 76, Maldives at 101, India at 130 and Bhutan at 134.

HDI is a composite index assessing progress in three basic dimensions of human development -- health as measured by life expectancy at birth, knowledge measured by mean years of education, and standard of living measured by per capita gross national income.

Movements in HDI are driven by changes in health, education and income. 

Norway topped the HDR 2018 list, while Niger brought up the rear.