Human Development Index 2005

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

162 data points••Global Coverage•Augmented Human Development Index | Our World in Data•

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
Actions
1
Australia flag
Australia
0.792
2
Japan flag
Japan
0.775
3
Switzerland flag
Switzerland
0.771
4
Canada flag
Canada
0.766
5
Norway flag
Norway
0.753
6
United Kingdom flag
United Kingdom
0.751
7
Germany flag
Germany
0.75
8
United States flag
United States
0.747
9
New Zealand flag
New Zealand
0.74
10
Sweden flag
Sweden
0.729
11
Denmark flag
Denmark
0.726
12
France flag
France
0.723
13
Iceland flag
Iceland
0.703
14
South Korea flag
South Korea
0.7
15
Finland flag
Finland
0.697
16
Netherlands flag
Netherlands
0.688
17
Austria flag
Austria
0.68
18
Belgium flag
Belgium
0.672
19
Italy flag
Italy
0.667
20
Ireland flag
Ireland
0.653
21
Slovenia flag
Slovenia
0.648
22
Spain flag
Spain
0.642
23
Israel flag
Israel
0.641
24
Greece flag
Greece
0.636
25
Chile flag
Chile
0.623
26
Czech Republic flag
Czech Republic
0.621
27
Estonia flag
Estonia
0.618
28
Taiwan flag
Taiwan
0.602
29
Slovakia flag
Slovakia
0.594
30
Malta flag
Malta
0.59
31
Bahamas flag
Bahamas
0.579
32
Lithuania flag
Lithuania
0.576
33
Hungary flag
Hungary
0.572
34
China, Hong Kong SAR flag
China, Hong Kong SAR
0.568
35
Latvia flag
Latvia
0.558
36
Croatia flag
Croatia
0.558
37
Portugal flag
Portugal
0.557
38
Poland flag
Poland
0.552
39
Costa Rica flag
Costa Rica
0.546
40
Cyprus flag
Cyprus
0.545
41
Uruguay flag
Uruguay
0.54
42
Bulgaria flag
Bulgaria
0.535
43
Barbados flag
Barbados
0.535
44
Trinidad and Tobago flag
Trinidad and Tobago
0.526
45
Argentina flag
Argentina
0.52
46
Belize flag
Belize
0.51
47
Panama flag
Panama
0.497
48
Peru flag
Peru
0.492
49
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines flag
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0.488
50
Brazil flag
Brazil
0.485
51
Saint Kitts and Nevis flag
Saint Kitts and Nevis
0.484
52
Singapore flag
Singapore
0.484
53
Mauritius flag
Mauritius
0.481
54
Albania flag
Albania
0.469
55
Jamaica flag
Jamaica
0.468
56
Serbia flag
Serbia
0.467
57
Mexico flag
Mexico
0.466
58
Saint Lucia flag
Saint Lucia
0.459
59
Romania flag
Romania
0.455
60
Georgia flag
Georgia
0.452
61
Ecuador flag
Ecuador
0.44
62
Seychelles flag
Seychelles
0.437
63
Thailand flag
Thailand
0.423
64
Turkey flag
Turkey
0.42
65
Ukraine flag
Ukraine
0.416
66
Suriname flag
Suriname
0.408
67
Republic of Moldova flag
Republic of Moldova
0.399
68
Colombia flag
Colombia
0.397
69
Botswana flag
Botswana
0.393
70
Bolivia flag
Bolivia
0.392
71
Armenia flag
Armenia
0.392
72
Paraguay flag
Paraguay
0.39
73
Malaysia flag
Malaysia
0.388
74
Kuwait flag
Kuwait
0.388
75
Mongolia flag
Mongolia
0.383
76
Indonesia flag
Indonesia
0.381
77
South Africa flag
South Africa
0.377
78
Sri Lanka flag
Sri Lanka
0.376
79
Lebanon flag
Lebanon
0.376
80
Philippines flag
Philippines
0.372
81
Brunei Darussalam flag
Brunei Darussalam
0.371
82
Guyana flag
Guyana
0.368
83
Jordan flag
Jordan
0.362
84
Dominican Republic flag
Dominican Republic
0.35
85
Russia flag
Russia
0.347
86
Kazakhstan flag
Kazakhstan
0.342
87
Nicaragua flag
Nicaragua
0.339
88
El Salvador flag
El Salvador
0.334
89
Venezuela flag
Venezuela
0.332
90
India flag
India
0.329
91
Kyrgyzstan flag
Kyrgyzstan
0.328
92
Belarus flag
Belarus
0.328
93
Guatemala flag
Guatemala
0.326
94
Ghana flag
Ghana
0.326
95
Honduras flag
Honduras
0.32
96
Namibia flag
Namibia
0.32
97
Qatar flag
Qatar
0.312
98
Oman flag
Oman
0.312
99
United Arab Emirates flag
United Arab Emirates
0.305
100
Sao Tome and Principe flag
Sao Tome and Principe
0.299
101
Iran flag
Iran
0.297
102
Algeria flag
Algeria
0.293
103
Egypt flag
Egypt
0.292
104
Cuba flag
Cuba
0.29
105
Azerbaijan flag
Azerbaijan
0.282
106
Bahrain flag
Bahrain
0.28
107
Gabon flag
Gabon
0.28
108
Kenya flag
Kenya
0.274
109
Lesotho flag
Lesotho
0.267
110
Morocco flag
Morocco
0.267
111
Tunisia flag
Tunisia
0.266
112
Vietnam flag
Vietnam
0.259
113
Syrian Arab Republic flag
Syrian Arab Republic
0.255
114
Zambia flag
Zambia
0.255
115
Tajikistan flag
Tajikistan
0.25
116
Saudi Arabia flag
Saudi Arabia
0.249
117
Bangladesh flag
Bangladesh
0.248
118
Pakistan flag
Pakistan
0.245
119
China flag
China
0.244
120
Benin flag
Benin
0.242
121
Cambodia flag
Cambodia
0.231
122
Iraq flag
Iraq
0.229
123
Senegal flag
Senegal
0.228
124
Uzbekistan flag
Uzbekistan
0.227
125
Tanzania flag
Tanzania
0.227
126
Nigeria flag
Nigeria
0.226
127
Madagascar flag
Madagascar
0.224
128
Malawi flag
Malawi
0.222
129
Libya flag
Libya
0.222
130
Liberia flag
Liberia
0.216
131
Côte d'Ivoire flag
Côte d'Ivoire
0.211
132
Nepal flag
Nepal
0.207
133
Congo flag
Congo
0.206
134
Cameroon flag
Cameroon
0.206
135
Yemen flag
Yemen
0.204
136
Zimbabwe flag
Zimbabwe
0.203
137
Uganda flag
Uganda
0.203
138
Sierra Leone flag
Sierra Leone
0.2
139
Equatorial Guinea flag
Equatorial Guinea
0.198
140
Mozambique flag
Mozambique
0.198
141
Mali flag
Mali
0.19
142
Laos flag
Laos
0.188
143
Eswatini flag
Eswatini
0.188
144
Mauritania flag
Mauritania
0.187
145
Togo flag
Togo
0.185
146
Rwanda flag
Rwanda
0.174
147
Gambia flag
Gambia
0.168
148
Guinea-Bissau flag
Guinea-Bissau
0.167
149
Haiti flag
Haiti
0.165
150
Burkina Faso flag
Burkina Faso
0.165
151
Angola flag
Angola
0.156
152
Central African Republic flag
Central African Republic
0.155
153
Niger flag
Niger
0.154
154
Sudan flag
Sudan
0.152
155
Afghanistan flag
Afghanistan
0.149
156
Guinea flag
Guinea
0.146
157
Burundi flag
Burundi
0.141
158
Myanmar flag
Myanmar
0.139
159
Congo, Democratic Republic of the flag
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
0.133
160
Ethiopia flag
Ethiopia
0.123
161
Chad flag
Chad
0.108
162
Eritrea flag
Eritrea
0.092

↑Top 10 Countries

  1. #1Australia flagAustralia
  2. #2Japan flagJapan
  3. #3Switzerland flagSwitzerland
  4. #4Canada flagCanada
  5. #5Norway flagNorway
  6. #6United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom
  7. #7Germany flagGermany
  8. #8United States flagUnited States
  9. #9New Zealand flagNew Zealand
  10. #10Sweden flagSweden

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

↓Bottom 10 Countries

  1. #162Eritrea flagEritrea
  2. #161Chad flagChad
  3. #160Ethiopia flagEthiopia
  4. #159Congo, Democratic Republic of the flagCongo, Democratic Republic of the
  5. #158Myanmar flagMyanmar
  6. #157Burundi flagBurundi
  7. #156Guinea flagGuinea
  8. #155Afghanistan flagAfghanistan
  9. #154Sudan flagSudan
  10. #153Niger flagNiger

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

Analysis & Context

In 2005, the Human Development Index highlighted Australia as the leading country with an index value of 0.79, while Eritrea recorded the lowest at 0.09. The global average Human Development Index for this year was 0.39, with a median value of 0.37, revealing significant disparities in development levels across the 162 countries evaluated.

Economic Prosperity and Human Development

Countries with high Human Development Index values, such as Australia (0.7917522), Japan (0.77533066), and Switzerland (0.7713762), often benefit from robust economies that provide residents with access to quality education, healthcare, and income opportunities. These nations typically have well-established infrastructure and policies that foster innovation and economic stability, contributing to their high human development scores. In contrast, nations like Eritrea (0.09174644) and Chad (0.10839927) struggle with economic challenges such as limited industrialization and high poverty rates, which are reflected in their lower indices.

Geography and Access to Resources

Geographic factors play a crucial role in determining a country's Human Development Index. For instance, Norway (0.75260794) and Sweden (0.7294529), with their rich natural resources and access to the sea, have leveraged these advantages to build prosperous economies and comprehensive welfare systems. Conversely, landlocked countries or those with harsh climates, like Niger (0.15380612) and Afghanistan (0.14892088), face logistical challenges that impede economic growth and development, impacting their human development outcomes.

Policy and Governance Impact

Effective governance and policy-making significantly influence Human Development Index scores. Nations like the United Kingdom (0.7513677) and Germany (0.7496029) have implemented policies that prioritize education, healthcare, and social welfare, resulting in high development indices. These countries also benefit from political stability and efficient governance structures. On the other hand, countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (0.13310105) and Myanmar (0.13869509) suffer from political instability and governance challenges, which hinder their development efforts and are reflected in their lower HDI scores.

Educational Attainment and Human Development

Education is a critical component of the Human Development Index. Countries with high HDI values, like Canada (0.76598763) and New Zealand (0.7404163), have invested significantly in education, resulting in high literacy rates and skilled workforces. This investment in human capital fuels economic growth and improves living standards. In contrast, countries such as Burundi (0.14119495) and Guinea (0.14569406) face educational challenges, including limited access to quality schooling and high dropout rates, which contribute to their lower HDI scores.

The 2005 Human Development Index underscores the complex interplay of economic, geographic, and policy factors in shaping development outcomes. By analyzing these elements, we gain insights into the strengths and challenges faced by different countries, guiding efforts to improve human development globally.

Frequently Asked Questions About Human Development Index in 2005

Which country had the highest Human Development Index in 2005?

Australia had the highest Human Development Index in 2005 with a value of 0.79.

What was the lowest Human Development Index value in 2005 and which country had it?

The lowest Human Development Index value in 2005 was 0.09, recorded by Eritrea.

What was the average Human Development Index value across countries in 2005?

The average Human Development Index value across countries in 2005 was 0.39.

What was the median Human Development Index value in 2005?

The median Human Development Index value in 2005 was 0.37.

Which countries were in the top 10 for Human Development Index in 2005?

The top 10 countries for Human Development Index in 2005 were Australia, Japan, Switzerland, Canada, Norway, United Kingdom, Germany, United States, New Zealand, and Sweden.

What was the range of Human Development Index values in 2005?

The range of Human Development Index values in 2005 was from 0.09 in Eritrea to 0.79 in Australia.

Insights by country

1

Seychelles

Seychelles achieved a Human Development Index of 0.43744957 in 2005, ranking #62 out of 162 countries. This value reflects a higher level of human development compared to many nations in the African region, where average HDI values tend to be lower. Key drivers of Seychelles' HDI include its relatively high income from tourism and fisheries, as well as investments in health and education, contributing to improved living standards.

2

Myanmar

In 2005, Myanmar had a Human Development Index of 0.13869509, ranking #158 out of 162 countries. This value reflects significant challenges compared to regional neighbors, such as Thailand, which boasts a much higher HDI. Contributing factors to Myanmar's low ranking include prolonged political instability, economic sanctions, and limited access to education and healthcare, which have hindered overall development.

3

Angola

In 2005, Angola had a Human Development Index of 0.15637226, ranking #151 out of 162 countries. This figure places Angola significantly below the global average, reflecting its challenges in human development compared to more stable nations. Key drivers of this low ranking include ongoing economic instability, a legacy of civil conflict, and limited access to education and healthcare services.

4

Greece

In 2005, Greece achieved a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.6356295, ranking #24 out of 162 countries. This places Greece above the global average, reflecting a higher standard of living compared to many nations. Key drivers of this HDI include Greece's robust healthcare system and educational attainment, alongside a relatively stable economy bolstered by tourism and shipping industries.

5

Argentina

In 2005, Argentina achieved a Human Development Index of 0.5196086, ranking #45 out of 162 countries. This position is notably higher than some of its regional neighbors, reflecting a relatively strong performance in human development metrics compared to countries like Bolivia. Key drivers of Argentina's HDI include its diverse economy, which benefits from agricultural exports, and a relatively high literacy rate, contributing to better health and education outcomes.

6

China

In 2005, China had a Human Development Index of 0.2435417, ranking #119 out of 162 countries. This value was significantly lower than the global average, reflecting challenges in social services and income distribution. Rapid economic growth during this period was not evenly distributed, leading to disparities in education and healthcare access across different regions.

7

Afghanistan

In 2005, Afghanistan had a Human Development Index of 0.14892088, ranking #155 out of 162 countries. This low ranking reflects significant challenges compared to regional neighbors, many of which have higher development indices. Key drivers of Afghanistan's poor performance include ongoing conflict, limited access to education and healthcare, and a struggling economy heavily reliant on agriculture and foreign aid.

8

Cameroon

In 2005, Cameroon had a Human Development Index of 0.20559283, ranking #134 out of 162 countries. This value is significantly lower than the average for sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting the challenges the nation faces in health, education, and economic stability.

The country's development is hindered by factors such as limited access to quality healthcare, high poverty rates, and political instability, which impede progress in human development metrics.

9

Bahamas

In 2005, the Bahamas achieved a Human Development Index of 0.5789728, ranking #31 out of 162 countries. This figure is notably higher than many of its Caribbean neighbors, reflecting the nation's relatively strong economic performance and social services. Key drivers of this ranking include a robust tourism sector, which significantly contributes to GDP, and a relatively high standard of living for its residents compared to regional averages.

10

Bulgaria

Bulgaria achieved a Human Development Index of 0.5350217 in 2005, ranking #42 out of 162 countries. This index value places Bulgaria above the global average but below many of its European neighbors, reflecting significant developmental challenges. Key drivers of this statistic include Bulgaria's transitional economy, which has struggled with post-communist reforms, and demographic issues such as a declining population and emigration of skilled workers.

Data Source

Augmented Human Development Index | Our World in Data

Our World in Data is a research organization that provides comprehensive data and visualizations on global development topics. The Augmented Human Development Index dataset offers country-level statistics on human development by incorporating additional indicators such as inequality and environmental sustainability.

Visit Data Source

Historical Data by Year

Explore Human Development Index data across different years. Compare trends and see how statistics have changed over time.

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