India’s position in the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) for 2022 improved slightly, ranking 134 out of 193 countries with an HDI value of 0.644. This signifies progress in various dimensions of human development, albeit with a continued need to focus on women-led development, as highlighted by the UNDP.
India’s HDI Trends
Between 1990 and 2022, India experienced a significant increase in its HDI value by 48.4%, from 0.434 to 0.644, placing it in the medium human development category. The country’s HDI improvement reflects advancements in life expectancy, education, and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita.
India’s Gender Inequality Progress
India has shown progress in reducing gender inequality, ranking 108 out of 166 countries in the Gender Inequality Index (GII) 2022. Despite improvements, there remains a significant gender gap in the labor force participation rate, with a difference of 47.8 percentage points between women and men.
Performance of India’s Neighbors
Comparatively, India’s neighbors vary in their human development achievements. Sri Lanka and China are ranked higher, categorized under the High Human Development category. Nepal and Pakistan have been ranked even lower in the HDI index.
Global Inequality Trends
The global HDI is projected to reach record highs in 2023, yet inequality persists. Rich countries have achieved record levels of human development, while half of the world’s poorest countries remain below their pre-crisis levels, exacerbating global inequality and stoking political polarization.
Key Country Rankings in HDI 2022
| Rank | Country | HDI Value | Change from 2021 |
| 75 | China | 0.788 | +0.003 |
| 78 | Iran | 0.780 | +0.004 |
| 78 | Sri Lanka | 0.780 | -0.003 |
| 87 | Maldives | 0.762 | +0.009 |
| 125 | Bhutan | 0.681 | +0.004 |
| 129 | Bangladesh | 0.670 | +0.008 |
| 134 | India | 0.644 | +0.011 |
| 146 | Nepal | 0.601 | +0.010 |
| 164 | Pakistan | 0.540 | +0.003 |
| 182 | Afghanistan | 0.462 | -0.011 |
These rankings highlight the varying degrees of human development across countries and underscore the need for concerted efforts to address inequalities and foster inclusive development globally.