Summary

According to estimates by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Global Human Development Index (HDI)* in 2023–2024. reached a record high, but progress has been extremely uneven. In 2023, 38 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries achieved higher HDI scores than in 2019, while 18 least developed countries did not return to pre-pandemic levels. Global inequality is exacerbated by significant economic concentration—40% of global merchandise trade is concentrated in three or fewer countries; and in 2021, the market capitalization of each of the world's three largest technology companies exceeded the gross domestic product (GDP) of more than 90% of countries. The highest HDI was recorded in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Hong Kong (China). Russia and Belarus are also among the countries with a very high level of human development, occupying 56th and 69th lines. Among the countries with the lowest index values are Somalia, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Niger and Chad. *Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite indicator that includes data on three areas of human development: life expectancy, access to education and gross national income (GNI) per capita in PPP dollars.