India climbs to 130 in Human Development Index, at par with Bangladesh but way behind Sri Lanka

India’s life expectancy metric rose from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023, the highest recorded since the index began.
| Photo Credit:
K Ragesh

India moved up three spots in the Human Development Index (HDI), to 130, UN Development Programme (UNDP) said on Tuesday. It also stated that India is in a unique position globally as a rising AI (Artificial Intelligence) powerhouse, with the highest self-reported AI skills penetration.

The index is part of the Human Development Report (HDR) which ranks 193 countries. Ireland tops the list, followed by Norway, Switzerland, Denmark and Germany. India is ranked at par with Bangladesh, while its neighbours Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan are at 89th, 145th and 168th, respectively.

“With an HDI value increasing from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, India remains in the medium human development category, moving closer to the threshold for high human development (HDI more than or equal to 0.700),” the report said.

The HDI is a summary measure of average achievements in key dimensions of human development — a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable and having a decent standard of living. It is the geometric mean of normalised indices for each of the three dimensions.

Talking about India, Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP India, said this advancement reflects sustained improvements in key dimensions of human development, particularly in mean years of schooling and national income per capita. India’s life expectancy reaching its highest level since the inception of the index is a testament to the country’s robust recovery from the pandemic and its investments and commitment to long-term human well-being.

“With a renewed focus on women-led development, quality education and healthcare for all, India is well positioned to achieve inclusive growth and continued progress on human development,” she said.

According to UNDP, India’s HDI value has increased by over 53 per cent since 1990, growing faster than both the global and South Asian averages. This progress has been fuelled by economic growth and targeted social protection and welfare programmes. Life expectancy rose from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023, the highest recorded since the index began.

The UN agency noted children today are expected to stay in school for 13 years on average, up from 8.2 years in 1990. 

The report noted that inequality reduces India’s HDI by 30.7 per cent, one of the highest losses in the region. While health and education inequality have improved, income and gender disparities remain significant. “Female labour force participation and political representation lag, though recent steps—such as the constitutional amendment reserving one-third of legislative seats for women—offer promise for transformative change,” it noted.

India and AI

The HDR has placed India in a unique position globally as a rising AI powerhouse with the highest self-reported AI skills penetration and growing domestic retention of talent—20 per cent of Indian AI researchers now remain in the country, up from nearly zero in 2019.

AI is being developed and deployed to solve complex challenges at scale such as farmers accessing insurance, credit, and advisories in regional languages. A new global UNDP survey shows that 70 per cent of people expect AI to boost productivity, and 64 per cent believe it will create new jobs — with optimism highest among youth, the report said.

Published on May 6, 2025

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