Top 10 · economy
Top 10 countries by human development index
UNDP composite of health, education and income (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report data, latest year 2023, covering 191 countries.
The top 10
1st of 191 · 2023
Iceland0.972 score
- 2ndNorway0.97 score
- 2ndSwitzerland0.97 score
- 4thDenmark0.962 score
- 5thGermany0.959 score
- 5thSweden0.959 score
- 7thAustralia0.958 score
- 8thNetherlands0.955 score
- 9thBelgium0.951 score
- 10thIreland0.949 score
The other end · bottom 5 of 191
- 186thNiger0.419 score
- 188thChad0.416 score
- 189thCentral African Republic0.414 score
- 190thSomalia0.404 score
- 191stSouth Sudan0.388 score
Where the big countries land
- 16thUnited States0.938 score
- 77thChina0.797 score
- 129thIndia0.685 score
- 83rdBrazil0.786 score
Common questions
Questions people ask about human development index
Which country ranks highest for human development index?
Iceland ranks 1st of 191 countries at 0.972 score (2023 data). Source: UNDP Human Development Report.
Which countries are in the top 10 for human development index?
The top 10 are Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland — computed from UNDP Human Development Report data, latest year 2023.
Where does the United States rank in human development index?
The United States ranks 16th of 191 countries at 0.938 score (2023 data). Source: UNDP Human Development Report.
What is the median human development index worldwide?
Across the 191 countries covered, the median is 0.762 score. Values run from 0.972 score (Iceland, ranked 1st) to 0.388 score (South Sudan, ranked 191st).
Is human development index higher in Europe or the US?
The median across 43 European countries is 0.913 score, against 0.938 score in the United States — it is higher in the US. Source: UNDP Human Development Report.
Which country ranks lowest for human development index?
South Sudan sits at the other end of the list: 0.388 score ranks 191st of 191 (2023 data). Source: UNDP Human Development Report.
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More on economy
- GDP per capitaOutput per person, price-adjusted: states via BEA regional price parities, countries via PPP.
- Median income (after tax)Median equivalised household disposable income per person, USD PPP — what the middle household actually has to spend after taxes and transfers.
- PopulationResident population.
- Land areaLand area in square kilometres.
- Cost of livingOverall price level relative to the US average (100).
- Income inequalityGini index of income distribution (0 = perfect equality).
Who leads the world
- Monacotops life expectancy86.5 years
- Singaporetops homicide rate0.1 per 100k
- Bulgariatops paid maternity leave59 weeks
Iceland leads on human development index — see where it lands on every other measure, and which US state it most resembles.
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