Latest news with #HumanDevelopmentIndex
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Around Lake Tanganyika, Burundians struggle with endless flooding
Asha, a mother-of-four, was wearing rubber boots in her living room again the frequent price of living near Lake Tanganyika in Burundi in an era of climate change and repeated flooding. The elegant buildings of Gatumba, a town on the outskirts of the capital Bujumbura, are a reminder of its recent prosperity. But all too often, residents must pitch tents on their roofs, while children float between houses on rafts made of plastic bottles. "We've been underwater for years," said Asha, 32. The level of Lake Tanganyika rises cyclically but has been exacerbated by global warming, said Bernard Sindayihebura, an urban planning and environment specialist at the University of Burundi. Surface temperatures on Africa's second-largest lake have been rising steadily, causing more rain and pushing the lake above its historical average since 2018, he said. The high water level means the Ruzizi River cannot flow into the lake, flooding the surrounding area year after year, including Gatumba on its northern shore. Asha fled with her family during a particularly severe flood in 2023 which reached up to her waist seeking refuge in temporary shelters nearby. They were flooded again a year later and again this year, with the waters swallowing up many neighbourhoods. The area once thrived thanks to its fertile land and trade across the nearby Congolese border. But the floods destroyed farmland and schools, said Asha, who previously lived off her crops. Now, her family often goes hungry, she said, and her children are stuck at home. "It's not that we don't want to move. We can't afford it because of the lack of jobs," said Asha, who only gave her first name for security reasons. Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranked 187th out of 193 by the UN on its Human Development Index. It is also one of the 20 countries most vulnerable to climate change, the UN says. In 2024, torrential rains, exacerbated by the El Nino climate phenomenon, displaced nearly 100,000 people and claimed many lives, although no official toll has been given. Ariella, a mother of seven now living in the Gateri camp in the north of the country, said she "lost everything" to a flood in Gatumba in 2020. Her house collapsed and one of her babies was almost swept away by the floodwaters. She moved her family to two different camps only to be hit by flooding again. The camp at Gateri is on high ground and further from the Ruzizi River, so she feels safer. But the land is poor and money scarce. "We often wonder what our future will look like," she told AFP. She refuses to return to Gatumba since the flooding has brought hippopotamuses and crocodiles to the streets. "Anarchic" construction since the colonial era has added to the problem, environment specialist Sindayihebura said, including in the capital where several roads and buildings are frequently submerged. Sindayihebura said that a dyke could save Gatumba but it would take at least 10 years for the waters in the lake to recede enough to build it. Locals tried to build one themselves last year, but it made little difference. Save the Children, an international NGO, is appealing for funds to help those affected. But the timing is bad: the administration of US President Donald Trump has suspended 83 percent of US humanitarian projects, with climate-related programmes among those most likely to be cut. The United States accounted for 40 percent of global aid and no country has stepped in to fill the void. In Gatumba, neighbourhood leader Jean-Marie Niyonkuru, 42, said locals were finding ways to survive, but it was tough. "Children suffer from diarrhoea because the water has mixed with toilet water, flooding the streets," he said. "There is a lot of cholera." jcp/jf/er/kjm INDEX CORP.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
India's GDP rank misleading amid stark social inequalities: Jana Chaitanya Vedika
Despite India becoming the fourth largest economy in the world, the country lags significantly in key human development indicators, said leaders of the Jana Chaitanya Vedika (JCV). Addressing the media here on Tuesday, former MLC K.S. Lakshmana Rao, JCV State president Vallamreddy Lakshmana Reddy, and economist Prof. D.A.R. Subramanyam criticised the celebration of the country's GDP growth while poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment remain acute. 'India ranks 130th in Human Development Index and 105th in Global Hunger Index,' Prof. Subramanyam said. He highlighted growing economic inequality, with the top 1% controlling 22% of national income, while the bottom 50% share only 13%. He noted that India's national debt rose from ₹2,865 crore in 1950 to ₹185 lakh crore by March 2025. The speakers urged governments to prioritise social equity, education, and employment over empty economic optics.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
What is the benefit of rapid GDP growth if it doesn't translate to a dignified life?
Written by Ejaz Ayoub 'The welfare of a nation can scarcely be inferred from a measure of national income.' — Simon Kuznets, chief architect of the GDP metric India, according to the International Monetary Fund, is expected to be the fourth-largest economy in the world with a GDP of USD 4.19 trillion in 2025, ahead of Japan. This achievement, while seemingly a moment of national pride, warrants a closer examination. Beneath the impressive headline lies a complex reality of structural challenges that, if unaddressed, could impede India's path to sustainable and inclusive growth. There is no denying the fact that India's economic ascent from the 10th position a decade ago to fifth today and fourth eventually deserves to be applauded. However, GDP in absolute terms can be a deceptive metric when isolated from its context. A nation's economic strength is not solely determined by its size but by the tangible benefits it delivers to its populace. Consider the stark contrast with Japan. Despite being 10 times smaller in population (124 million compared to India's 1.4 billion) and geography (377,000 sq km versus 3.29 million sq km), Japan generates nearly the same economic output as India. More tellingly, Japan ranks 23rd on the Human Development Index, while India lags far behind at 130th. This disparity highlights that economic efficiency and human development, not just scale, are what truly define progress. That a country with a fraction of India's human and natural resources achieves comparable GDP should prompt introspection rather than mere celebration. The question isn't just about scale, but policy and efficiency: Why isn't our immense demographic and territorial advantage translating into proportionate economic value? The root of the problem lies in the persistent inefficiencies of India's economic and institutional structures, an overreliance on low-value services, and a failure to industrialise and innovate at scale. Per Capita Income: The real picture India's per capita income reveals a more sobering truth. According to the IMF, at $2800, India ranks 140th globally in per capita income, the lowest even among the peer BRICS nations with Brazil at $10,296, Russia at $14,953, China at $12,969, and South Africa at $6,377. While overall GDP has surged, the wealth generated remains thinly distributed. The benefits of growth are disproportionately captured by the top 1 per cent of the population, who now own over 40 per cent of the total wealth (2023 Oxfam inequality report). If we exclude the top 5 per cent, the per capita income drops to a meagre $1,130, which is even below the lowest-income African countries. This economic pyramid is not only top-heavy but also widening. A growing concentration of income and wealth is leaving the bottom 50 per cent and even the middle 40 per cent struggling to keep pace. This is not merely a statistical concern; it carries profound implications for social cohesion, political stability, and long-term economic sustainability. Recent reports by Oxfam indicate that the concentration of economic power in India is at an all-time high. A few conglomerates dominate critical sectors — telecom, infrastructure, digital payments, retail — raising concerns about monopolistic behaviour, regulatory capture, and democratic erosion. The widening gulf between the luxurious elite and the struggling masses endangers both economic stability and democratic integrity. While some argue that inequality is a global phenomenon, with even China and Brazil facing similar disparities, the context differs. Unlike China, where state control allows for redistribution through public investments, or Brazil, where redistributive politics are fiercely contested, India's current political economy shows a limited appetite for directly addressing inequality. The work of Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson in Why Nations Fail is particularly insightful here. Their central argument posits that inclusive economic institutions — not just market-friendly ones — are crucial for long-term prosperity. India must reflect on whether its institutions and policies are evolving to be more inclusive or if they risk becoming concentrated in ways that primarily benefit a narrow segment of society. Human development lags behind India's latest Human Development Index (HDI) ranking of 0.685 in 2023, placing it 130th globally, underscores significant developmental gaps. In contrast, fellow BRICS members like China (0.797), Brazil (0.786), Russia (0.832), and even South Africa (0.741) fare better across key human development indicators. These nations have not only achieved economic growth but have also made substantial investments in education, healthcare, and social protection. This comparison is instructive: India is now the second-largest economy among BRICS in absolute terms, yet it lags in converting economic size into human development gains. This raises a fundamental question: What is the benefit of rapid GDP growth if it doesn't translate into dignified livelihood, improved health, increased life expectancy, higher literacy, or more equitable access to basic services? Moreover, within India, inter-state disparities are stark. Southern and western states usually report better HDI scores and per capita incomes, while large populations in central and eastern regions continue to experience developmental backlogs. This unevenness within the country mirrors the broader challenge of making growth inclusive, not just across classes but also across all regions. India is the world's most populous country, with a median age of under 30. This demographic bulge presents an enormous asset, but only if matched by commensurate investments in education, skilling, and employment generation. Unfortunately, the gap between aspiration and opportunity is widening. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (May 15, 2025), labour force participation, especially among women, remains dismally low. Millions of young people enter the workforce each year, but the formal sector is failing to generate adequate employment. Real wages for the poor have stagnated since 2014–15 despite consistent GDP growth. This disconnect between economic expansion and labour market outcomes is alarming. Without structural reforms in education, labour laws, and job creation, the demographic dividend risks becoming a demographic disaster. India's economy rests on an increasingly fragile foundation. Growth is lopsided — geographically, socially, and sectorally. While urban India prospers, rural distress persists. While high-tech services shine, manufacturing stagnates. While stock markets soar, informal workers remain in precarity. Growth without inclusiveness can deepen divides. Growth without productivity can exhaust resources, and growth without sustainability can be short-lived. India must shift its focus from mere GDP milestones to what that GDP delivers for its citizens. This necessitates investing in job creation, public health, quality education, and a robust social safety net. It means ensuring that credit flows not just to unicorns but also to MSMEs. All of this requires courage: Courage to reform institutions, rethink priorities, and resist the temptation of headline economics. The writer is a research scholar in the field of Economics at the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Management, National Institute of Technology-Srinagar
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Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
[Graphic News] S. Korea places 20th in UN quality of life ranking
South Korea ranked 20th out of 193 countries in the United Nations Development Program's Human Development Index, which evaluates the quality of life in each country. According to the UNDP's 2025 Human Development Report, South Korea achieved an HDI score of 0.937 for 2023, up from 0.928 the previous year. Despite the increase, the country slipped one spot in the global ranking, from 19th to 20th. Iceland topped the list, followed by Norway, Switzerland and Denmark. Among neighboring countries, Japan rose one place to 23rd, while China fell three spots to 78th. The HDI is a composite index that quantifies a country's quality of life by factoring in life expectancy, expected years of schooling, average years of schooling and gross national income per capita.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tiny Slovenia surpasses mighty Austria, one of the world's richest nations, in Human Development Index — here's how it did it
Slovenia Surpasses Austria in Human Development Index: How Education Played a Key Role- Slovenia has officially surpassed Austria in the latest Human Development Index (HDI) rankings, a major milestone for the small Central European nation. The HDI, developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), measures a country's average achievement in three critical areas: life expectancy, education, and income per capita. While both countries score high, Slovenia's strong focus on tertiary education helped it edge ahead of its wealthier neighbor. Slovenia surpass Austria in the Human Development Index ranking? Slovenia has officially overtaken Austria in the latest Human Development Index (HDI) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). HDI measures three main factors: Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Life expectancy Education Gross National Income (GNI) per capita Both countries score high overall, but Slovenia's strong focus on tertiary education gave it the edge. What helped Slovenia rise above Austria in the HDI rankings? Education was the main driver behind Slovenia's improved HDI score. Key educational metrics: Higher mean years of schooling in Slovenia than Austria. Higher expected years of schooling in Slovenia. Slovenia is now among the top European nations for university graduation rates. Austria emphasizes vocational training, leading to: Earlier entry into the workforce. Lower average time spent in formal education, especially at university level. How do education metrics impact HDI scores? The HDI includes two key education indicators: Mean Years of Schooling: Slovenia: ~12.7 years Austria: Slightly less Expected Years of Schooling: Slovenia: Over 17.6 years Reflects a system that supports extended academic careers Slovenia's education system encourages: Long-term school attendance Tertiary education enrollment and completion by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Vive en una casa de sólo 150 pies cuadrados, ¡pero cuando veas el interior querrás vivir allí! Consejos y Trucos Undo What made Slovenia rise above Austria in the HDI rankings? The main driver behind Slovenia's rise in the HDI is its exceptional performance in educational attainment. According to the latest UNDP data, Slovenia now records higher mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling than Austria. In fact, Slovenia is among the top countries in Europe for university graduation rates. Austria, on the other hand, continues to focus heavily on vocational training, encouraging young people to enter the workforce earlier. While this model supports early employment, it tends to lower the average time Austrians spend in formal education, especially at the university level. That difference in schooling time is now a key factor in the HDI scores. Live Events How do education metrics affect HDI scores? The Human Development Index includes two main education indicators: Mean Years of Schooling: Average years of education completed by adults aged 25 and older. Expected Years of Schooling: How many years a child entering school can expect to attend, given current enrollment patterns. Slovenia has shown remarkable progress on both fronts. Its education system encourages students to stay in school longer and pursue higher education. As a result, Slovenia's mean years of schooling is now around 12.7 years, slightly ahead of Austria's average. The expected years of schooling in Slovenia is over 17.6 years, reflecting a system designed to support long academic careers. Is Austria still ahead in income and life expectancy? Yes, but only slightly. Austria's Gross National Income (GNI) per capita is still higher, according to Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) estimates. However, this advantage isn't enough to outweigh the gains Slovenia made in education. In terms of life expectancy, both countries are performing well. Austria has a life expectancy of approximately 82.1 years, while Slovenia is close behind at around 81.3 years. The difference is marginal, and both nations benefit from universal healthcare systems that contribute to long, healthy lives. GNI per capita (PPP-adjusted): Austria still leads Slovenia. Life Expectancy: Austria: ~82.1 years Slovenia: ~81.3 years Both benefit from universal healthcare systems and high-quality living standards. What does this say about Slovenia's social and economic policies? Slovenia's rise in the HDI is not just about education—it's also a reflection of its broader social welfare system, economic planning, and focus on innovation. The country offers: Universal healthcare coverage Comprehensive social security, including unemployment and parental benefits A stable economy centered on mid- to high-tech manufacturing A well-educated workforce driving productivity and innovation Together, these factors help Slovenia maintain a high standard of living, even if its raw income figures are lower than Austria's. Can education continue to shape national development? Absolutely. Slovenia's case shows that investment in education—particularly at the tertiary level—can have a direct impact on national development rankings. It also challenges the idea that only income or GDP determines development. Countries with strong education systems, supportive public policies, and universal health services can compete with and even outperform wealthier neighbors in key global indexes like the HDI. Slovenia's success story is a reminder that human development is multi-dimensional, and education remains one of its most powerful drivers. FAQs: Q1: Why did Slovenia surpass Austria in the Human Development Index ranking? A1: Slovenia's strong focus on higher education helped boost its HDI score. Q2: What is the main factor behind Slovenia's rise in HDI? A2: High rates of university-level education in Slovenia led the change.
