There are almost 200 sovereign nations in the world. All of them can be grouped according to human development criteria related to health, education and standard of living. These general criteria are specified in specific parameters and their final calculation implies a Human Development Index or HDI.
There is a ranking of nations according to the HDI. Those with a high HDI are considered developed nations and those with a low HDI are underdeveloped nations. Between the two groups are developing countries.
Developed countries
Those countries with a life expectancy greater than 80 years, with a low infant mortality, with a low illiteracy rate, with a high purchasing power, with a low crime rate and with a low unemployment rate are considered developed. Such consideration has a simple explanation, since the different parameters translate into a good quality of life among its inhabitants.
Some nations that are traditionally grouped within this category are the following: Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Australia, Denmark, Singapore, the Netherlands, and Canada. Although the HDI of these nations is high, especially the per capita income data, it should not be forgotten that the idea of quality of life has a subjective component.
In other words, the inhabitants of a country can be rich and with all kinds of material resources and, at the same time, feel dissatisfied with their lives.
Underdeveloped countries
Certain parameters are incompatible with the general idea of quality of life. In this sense, a per capita income of less than $ 5,000 per year, a small number of doctors per inhabitant, and a low level of schooling are clearly negative indicators.
Its negative dimension is not simply a matter of numbers, since these indicators are usually accompanied by scarce material resources, social conflict and health-related problems. On the other hand, the issue of underdevelopment is directly related to three other factors: lack of democracy, unemployment, and limited access to drinking water.
According to official UN data, some of the most underdeveloped countries in the world are the following: Somalia, Ethiopia, Chad and Liberia on the African continent; Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan in Asia; Haiti, Honduras and Guatemala in America and Albania, Bosnia and Moldova in Europe.
For some analysts the HDI should be more than facts and figures
Although the HDI concept is useful to know the global reality of a country and its evolution over time, some analysts consider that it is information that should be complemented with other criteria related to freedom of expression, justice or solidarity.
Photo Fotolia: M-SUR
