Uzbekistan has secured the 106th spot out of 193 countries and territories in the Human Development Index prepared by the UN Development Program. Compared to 2021, the country has slipped one position. The index evaluates countries based on three key human development indicators: life expectancy, expected and actual years of schooling, and gross national income per capita based on purchasing power parity.
In 2022, Uzbekistan's Human Development Index reached 0.727 (with a maximum value of 1.000), placing the country in the category of nations with high human development. Uzbekistan sits between Egypt and Vietnam in the rankings. Among Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan claimed the 67th spot, Turkmenistan the 94th, Kyrgyzstan the 117th, and Tajikistan the 126th. Switzerland topped the index with a score of 0.967, followed by Norway and Iceland, with Hong Kong and Denmark rounding out the top five.
The latest UNDP report on human development, titled "Getting Back on Track: Rethinking Cooperation in a Polarized World," forecasts record-high Human Development Index values in 2023 after sharp declines in 2020 and 2021. However, the progress is marred by deep inequality, with affluent countries showing record-high human development levels while half of the poorest nations remain below their pre-crisis levels.
UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner highlighted the concerning trend of widening inequality between rich and poor countries. Despite global interdependence, the challenge of addressing inequality persists. The report also addresses the "democracy paradox," where despite widespread support for democracy, many individuals endorse leaders who undermine it.
Global surveys cited in the report reveal that nine out of ten people worldwide approve of democracy, yet over half of respondents express support for leaders who could undermine it. Additionally, half of those surveyed feel they lack control over their lives, with more than two-thirds believing they have minimal influence on government decisions. Political polarization is identified as a growing problem with global ramifications, fueling inward-focused political approaches that hinder global cooperation on critical issues like decarbonizing the economy and managing digital technology abuse and conflicts.
The report also highlights research indicating that countries with populist governments experience lower GDP growth rates. After 15 years of populist rule, GDP per capita is found to be 10% lower compared to non-populist scenarios.
