Which of the following measures are considered in the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI)?

(a) Per capita income
(b) Literacy
(c) Life expectancy
(d) Infant mortality rate
(e) Per capita energy consumption

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is C

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite measure developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assess the social and economic development of countries. The HDI is based on three key dimensions:

1. Health → Measured by Life expectancy at birth.
2. Education → Measured by Mean years of schooling and Expected years of schooling (which includes literacy rate as a component).
3. Standard of Living → Measured by Gross National Income (GNI) per capita (PPP in USD).

Information Booster:

• The Human Development Index (HDI) was introduced in 1990 by the UNDP to measure human progress beyond GDP.
• Three key dimensions of HDI:
  1. Health → Life expectancy at birth.
  2. Education → Mean and expected years of schooling.
  3. Standard of living → GNI per capita (PPP-adjusted).
• Infant mortality rate is used in broader health studies but is not directly part of HDI.
• HDI does not measure energy consumption, but the Energy Development Index (EDI) does.

Additional Knowledge:

​Infant Mortality Rate (Not Included in HDI):

• Infant mortality rate measures deaths of infants under one year per 1,000 live births.
• While it is a key health indicator, HDI uses life expectancy instead.

Per Capita Energy Consumption (Not Included in HDI):

• Energy consumption is an economic and environmental indicator, not a direct measure of human development.
• It is used in indices like Energy Development Index (EDI) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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