Human Development Index 1993

The Human Development Index combines indicators of health, education, and income to assess development levels.

142 data points••Global Coverage•Human Development Index | UNDP, Human Development Report via Our World in Data•

Newer data is available: Human Development Index by country 2023 →

Highest
United States
0.88
Lowest
Niger
0.23
Median country
0.64
Countries with data
142

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
Actions
1
United States flag
United States
0.884
2
Norway flag
Norway
0.875
3
Australia flag
Australia
0.872
4
Canada flag
Canada
0.871
5
Switzerland flag
Switzerland
0.867
6
Japan flag
Japan
0.865
7
Iceland flag
Iceland
0.863
8
Netherlands flag
Netherlands
0.863
9
Belgium flag
Belgium
0.86
10
Germany flag
Germany
0.859
11
Denmark flag
Denmark
0.853
12
Sweden flag
Sweden
0.85
13
Austria flag
Austria
0.845
14
Singapore flag
Singapore
0.84
15
Finland flag
Finland
0.838
16
New Zealand flag
New Zealand
0.838
17
United Kingdom flag
United Kingdom
0.827
18
France flag
France
0.818
19
Luxembourg flag
Luxembourg
0.812
20
Italy flag
Italy
0.806
21
Israel flag
Israel
0.801
22
Ireland flag
Ireland
0.794
23
Spain flag
Spain
0.789
24
Greece flag
Greece
0.784
25
China, Hong Kong SAR flag
China, Hong Kong SAR
0.784
26
Brunei Darussalam flag
Brunei Darussalam
0.783
27
Qatar flag
Qatar
0.778
28
South Korea flag
South Korea
0.77
29
Cyprus flag
Cyprus
0.764
30
Bahamas flag
Bahamas
0.763
31
Czech Republic flag
Czech Republic
0.76
32
Malta flag
Malta
0.754
33
Portugal flag
Portugal
0.751
34
Argentina flag
Argentina
0.748
35
Slovenia flag
Slovenia
0.746
36
Poland flag
Poland
0.737
37
United Arab Emirates flag
United Arab Emirates
0.736
38
Barbados flag
Barbados
0.735
39
Bahrain flag
Bahrain
0.732
40
Hungary flag
Hungary
0.729
41
Chile flag
Chile
0.725
42
Russia flag
Russia
0.725
43
Uruguay flag
Uruguay
0.722
44
Ukraine flag
Ukraine
0.721
45
Estonia flag
Estonia
0.713
46
Bulgaria flag
Bulgaria
0.711
47
Slovakia flag
Slovakia
0.71
48
Libya flag
Libya
0.705
49
Lithuania flag
Lithuania
0.705
50
Kuwait flag
Kuwait
0.704
51
Costa Rica flag
Costa Rica
0.696
52
Saint Lucia flag
Saint Lucia
0.694
53
Saudi Arabia flag
Saudi Arabia
0.693
54
Latvia flag
Latvia
0.692
55
Romania flag
Romania
0.692
56
Panama flag
Panama
0.686
57
Venezuela flag
Venezuela
0.68
58
Malaysia flag
Malaysia
0.677
59
Mexico flag
Mexico
0.675
60
Kazakhstan flag
Kazakhstan
0.673
61
Trinidad and Tobago flag
Trinidad and Tobago
0.667
62
Cuba flag
Cuba
0.665
63
Jamaica flag
Jamaica
0.664
64
Ecuador flag
Ecuador
0.66
65
Tonga flag
Tonga
0.66
66
Iran flag
Iran
0.658
67
Sri Lanka flag
Sri Lanka
0.658
68
Brazil flag
Brazil
0.654
69
South Africa flag
South Africa
0.65
70
North Macedonia flag
North Macedonia
0.647
71
Colombia flag
Colombia
0.645
72
Jordan flag
Jordan
0.643
73
Fiji flag
Fiji
0.642
74
Mauritius flag
Mauritius
0.641
75
Belize flag
Belize
0.64
76
Peru flag
Peru
0.633
77
Gabon flag
Gabon
0.631
78
Paraguay flag
Paraguay
0.626
79
Albania flag
Albania
0.624
80
Armenia flag
Armenia
0.621
81
Kyrgyzstan flag
Kyrgyzstan
0.615
82
Turkey flag
Turkey
0.615
83
Thailand flag
Thailand
0.612
84
Dominican Republic flag
Dominican Republic
0.611
85
Algeria flag
Algeria
0.603
86
Philippines flag
Philippines
0.602
87
Namibia flag
Namibia
0.601
88
Egypt flag
Egypt
0.593
89
Botswana flag
Botswana
0.588
90
Tunisia flag
Tunisia
0.587
91
Syrian Arab Republic flag
Syrian Arab Republic
0.583
92
Tuvalu flag
Tuvalu
0.579
93
Bolivia flag
Bolivia
0.577
94
Mongolia flag
Mongolia
0.567
95
Congo flag
Congo
0.566
96
Indonesia flag
Indonesia
0.555
97
Eswatini flag
Eswatini
0.55
98
Iraq flag
Iraq
0.55
99
Tajikistan flag
Tajikistan
0.549
100
El Salvador flag
El Salvador
0.548
101
Nicaragua flag
Nicaragua
0.534
102
Vietnam flag
Vietnam
0.531
103
Honduras flag
Honduras
0.529
104
China flag
China
0.522
105
Guyana flag
Guyana
0.521
106
Guatemala flag
Guatemala
0.51
107
Kenya flag
Kenya
0.483
108
Zimbabwe flag
Zimbabwe
0.483
109
Lesotho flag
Lesotho
0.477
110
Morocco flag
Morocco
0.468
111
Haiti flag
Haiti
0.467
112
India flag
India
0.458
113
Ghana flag
Ghana
0.45
114
Cameroon flag
Cameroon
0.436
115
Papua New Guinea flag
Papua New Guinea
0.432
116
Laos flag
Laos
0.426
117
Nepal flag
Nepal
0.425
118
Mauritania flag
Mauritania
0.421
119
Bangladesh flag
Bangladesh
0.419
120
Zambia flag
Zambia
0.417
121
Pakistan flag
Pakistan
0.408
122
Togo flag
Togo
0.404
123
Cambodia flag
Cambodia
0.399
124
Côte d'Ivoire flag
Côte d'Ivoire
0.393
125
Nigeria flag
Nigeria
0.393
126
Congo, Democratic Republic of the flag
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
0.385
127
Senegal flag
Senegal
0.382
128
Tanzania flag
Tanzania
0.382
129
Yemen flag
Yemen
0.377
130
Myanmar flag
Myanmar
0.374
131
Benin flag
Benin
0.371
132
Gambia flag
Gambia
0.355
133
Uganda flag
Uganda
0.347
134
Malawi flag
Malawi
0.324
135
Central African Republic flag
Central African Republic
0.321
136
Sierra Leone flag
Sierra Leone
0.312
137
Afghanistan flag
Afghanistan
0.311
138
Guinea flag
Guinea
0.3
139
Burundi flag
Burundi
0.265
140
Mali flag
Mali
0.259
141
Mozambique flag
Mozambique
0.252
142
Niger flag
Niger
0.228

↑Top 10 Countries

  1. #1United States flagUnited States
  2. #2Norway flagNorway
  3. #3Australia flagAustralia
  4. #4Canada flagCanada
  5. #5Switzerland flagSwitzerland
  6. #6Japan flagJapan
  7. #7Iceland flagIceland
  8. #8Netherlands flagNetherlands
  9. #9Belgium flagBelgium
  10. #10Germany flagGermany

Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.

↓Bottom 10 Countries

  1. #142Niger flagNiger
  2. #141Mozambique flagMozambique
  3. #140Mali flagMali
  4. #139Burundi flagBurundi
  5. #138Guinea flagGuinea
  6. #137Afghanistan flagAfghanistan
  7. #136Sierra Leone flagSierra Leone
  8. #135Central African Republic flagCentral African Republic
  9. #134Malawi flagMalawi
  10. #133Uganda flagUganda

Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.

Insights by country

1

Peru

In 1993, Peru achieved a Human Development Index of 0.633, ranking #76 out of 142 countries. This index was below the regional average for Latin America, reflecting challenges in social and economic development. Key drivers for this ranking included significant issues related to poverty, inequality, and political instability, which hindered progress in education and health services.

2

Mexico

In 1993, Mexico achieved a Human Development Index of 0.675, ranking #59 out of 142 countries. This score positioned Mexico above the global average but below several of its Latin American neighbors. Key drivers of this index included economic growth fueled by trade agreements and a young, growing population, which contributed to improvements in education and health outcomes during this period.

3

Pakistan

In 1993, Pakistan had a Human Development Index of 0.408, ranking #121 out of 142 countries. This score was significantly below the global average, reflecting challenges in health, education, and income levels compared to higher-ranked nations. Key drivers of this low index included economic instability, a lack of access to quality education, and high population growth rates, which strained public services and resources.

4

Laos

In 1993, Laos had a Human Development Index of 0.426, ranking #116 out of 142 countries. This value was lower than many of its Southeast Asian neighbors, reflecting significant development challenges in the region. Key drivers of this low index included a largely agrarian economy, limited access to education and healthcare, and the impacts of past conflicts that hindered infrastructure development.

5

Netherlands

In 1993, the Netherlands achieved a Human Development Index of 0.863, ranking #8 out of 142 countries. This positioned the Netherlands significantly above the global average, reflecting its strong social and economic systems. Key drivers of this high ranking include a robust welfare state, high levels of education, and effective healthcare policies that contribute to overall quality of life.

6

New Zealand

In 1993, New Zealand achieved a Human Development Index of 0.838, ranking #16 out of 142 countries. This ranking places New Zealand above the global average, reflecting its strong social and economic conditions compared to many other nations. Key drivers of this high HDI include a robust healthcare system, high levels of education, and a stable economy that supports a high standard of living.

7

Portugal

In 1993, Portugal achieved a Human Development Index of 0.751, ranking #33 out of 142 countries. This placed Portugal above the global average, reflecting its relatively high standards of living and education compared to many nations. Key drivers of this index included Portugal's progressive social policies and economic reforms following its transition to democracy in the 1970s, which bolstered health care access and educational attainment.

8

Lesotho

In 1993, Lesotho had a Human Development Index of 0.477, ranking #109 out of 142 countries. This figure reflects significant challenges, as it was below the global average and indicates lower human development compared to neighboring South Africa, which was ranked much higher. Key factors contributing to this low ranking include high levels of poverty, limited access to quality education and healthcare, and economic reliance on subsistence agriculture, which hampers overall development.

9

Nepal

Nepal ranked #117 globally with a Human Development Index value of 0.425 in 1993. This position is significantly lower than the regional average for South Asia, reflecting ongoing challenges in development. Key drivers of this low ranking include economic constraints, such as limited industrialization and reliance on agriculture, as well as geographic challenges that hinder infrastructure development and access to education.

10

Malaysia

In 1993, Malaysia achieved a Human Development Index of 0.677, ranking #58 out of 142 countries. This score positioned Malaysia above many of its Southeast Asian neighbors, reflecting its relative economic development and social progress. Key drivers of this performance included a growing manufacturing sector and government policies focused on education and health care, which contributed to improved living standards and life expectancy.

Data Source

Human Development Index | UNDP, Human Development Report via Our World in Data

Data produced by UNDP, Human Development Report, compiled and published by Our World in Data as "Human Development Index".

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Cite this page

Geo Factbook. (n.d.). Human Development Index by Country, 1993. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from https://geofactbook.com/fact/human-development-index/1993

The figures on this page come from Human Development Index | UNDP, Human Development Report via Our World in Data. For academic work, cite the original source as well.

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