Human Development Report 2016

BOX 2
Measuring human development
The composite Human Development Index (HDI) integrates
three basic dimensions of human development.
Life expectancy at birth reflects the ability to
lead a long and healthy life. Mean years of schooling
and expected years of schooling reflect the ability to
acquire knowledge. And gross national income per
capita reflects the ability to achieve a decent standard
of living.
To measure human development more comprehensively,
the Human Development Report also presents four
other composite indices. The Inequality-adjusted HDI discounts
the HDI according to the extent of inequality. The
Gender Development Index compares female and male
HDI values. The Gender Inequality Index highlights women’s
empowerment. And the Multidimensional Poverty
Index measures nonincome dimensions of poverty.
Source: Human Development Report Office.
The human development approach also provided
the analytical bedrock of the Millennium the world still faces many complex develop-
Yet, even with all this commendable progress,
Declaration and the Millennium Development ment challenges. Some challenges are lingering
Goals — the timebound development objectives (deprivations), some deepening (inequalities)
and targets agreed on in 2000 by 189 heads of and some emerging (violent extremism). Some
states and governments to reduce basic human are global (gender inequality), some regional
poverty by 2015. And it informed and influenced
the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Most are mutually reinforcing — climate change
(water stress) and some local (natural disasters).
Development Goals.
reduces food security; rapid urbanization marginalizes
the urban poor. Whatever their reach,
these challenges have a negative impact on
Human development for
people’s well-being.
everyone is attainable
Despite all these challenges, what humanity
has achieved over 25 years gives hope that
As universalism is the centrepiece of human fundamental changes are possible. In fact, some
development, human development must be of the impressive achievements have been in
and can be attained for everyone. The positive regions or areas that once were lagging. All over
evidence is encouraging.
the world people are increasingly engaged in
By 2015 the world had achieved some of influencing the processes that shape their lives.
what seemed to be daunting challenges 25 years Human ingenuity and creativity have initiated
ago. Even though the global population increased
by 2 billion — from 5.3 billion in 1990 into the way we work, think and behave.
technological revolutions and translated them
to 7.3 billion in 2015 — more than 1 billion Gender equality and women’s empowerment
people escaped extreme poverty, 2.1 billion are now mainstream dimensions of any development
discourse. And there is no denying that
gained access to improved sanitation and more
than 2.6 billion gained access to an improved with an intention to overcome them constructively,
space for discussions and dialogues on
source of drinking water. 5
The global under-five mortality rate was more issues once taboo is slowly opening — as with
than halved between 1990 and 2015— from sexual orientation; discriminations faced by lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex peo-
91 per 1,000 live births to 43. The incidence
of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis declined between
2000 and 2015. The proportion of seats Awareness of sustainability has been growing.
ple; and female genital mutilation and cutting.
held by women in parliaments worldwide rose The 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on
to 23 percent in 2016 — up 6 percentage points climate change are prime examples. They also
over the preceding decade. The global net loss show that under the rumble of debate and gridlock,
a nascent global consensus is emerging
of forested areas fell from 7.3 million hectares
a year in the 1990s to 3.3 million during around many global challenges and ensuring a
2010–2015. 6 sustainable world for future generations.
What humanity has
achieved over 25
years gives hope that
fundamental changes
are possible. Some
of the impressive
achievements have
been in regions or
areas that once
were lagging
Overview | 3