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5 - Peoples of the Mekong2.1 Indices of human developmentThe Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index developed by UNDP to measureaverage achievements in social and economic development using indicators for longevity, knowledgeand standard of living. e The Gender Development Index (GDI) measures women’s achievementusing the same indicators as the HDI. The relationship between the HDI and GDI for each countrymeasures the relative status of women’s opportunities. The closer the values of the HDI and GDI,the greater the degree of gender equality.All countries in the LMB are presently classified as“medium human development” countries, with HDI valuesbetween 0.500-0.799. Over the 1990s, the HDI improvedsteadily in all LMB countries. However, the 1999-2001levels in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam remain belowthe 1990 level in Thailand (0.713). The HDI for Thailandand Viet Nam are above the average of 0.660 for middleincomecountries. Cambodia and Lao PDR are lowincomecountries with HDI values below the average of0.610 for developing countries in East Asia and the Pacific.There is wide variation among sub-national regions withincountries in the LMB. In Thailand in 1999, the HDI forthe Northeast Region, cited in the national humandevelopment report was 0.655 compared with a nationalvalue of 0.880. f In general, the HDI for urban areas suchas Vientiane (0.665) is significantly higher than thenational average. Only the Central Region (0.539) ofLao PDR has an HDI above the national average, dueprimarily to the proximity of prosperous rural areas toVientiane.In Thailand and the Mekong Delta, there arerelatively high levels of gender equality, althoughThai data are not specifically for the basin. Thisequality is based primarily on higher life expectancyfor women in general, and more equal levels ofachievement in literacy and education. Elsewhere,greater systemic differences remain between theopportunities for men and women. This isparticularly true in rural areas of Cambodia, theNorthern Region of Lao PDR and the CentralHighlands of Viet Nam. Throughout the LMB,women’s income levels continue to be substantiallylower than those of men.For females, opportunities for a better lifeare closely linked to continuing theireducation beyond primary schoolTable 5. Development indices, 1999-2001HDIGDICambodia 0.541 0.534Urban 0.601Rural 0.496Lao PDR 0.535 0.530Vientiane 0.665 0.650Northern 0.531 0.490Central 0.539 0.550Southern 0.519 0.520Thailand 0.757 0.755Viet Nam 0.696 0.680Mekong Delta 0.669 0.668Central Highlands 0.604 0.599Sources: NSC/UNDP 2002; UNDP 2002;UNDP 2000; UNDP-Viet Nam 2002efHDI uses international data to measure life expectancy at birth, adult literacy rate, combined schoolenrolment ratios and adjusted per capita income (PPP $US). The highest possible value is 1.000; the higherthe HDI value, the greater the level of human development. (UNDP, 2002).UNDP 1999. N.B. These national indices for Thailand were developed using government sources of data,rather than UN agency data that are used for the international UNDP HDI. The national indices are valid forinter-provincial comparisons within Thailand.49