Cambodia improves human development Index

[geovalin]

Cambodia’s improvements on human development are the biggest in the region, but standards of living still lag behind neighboring nations, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) figures have shown. The UNDP’s Human Development Index (HDI) in 2015, which was published yesterday, showed Cambodians’ health, education and standards of living made the highest increase rate in East Asia and the Pacific at a rate of 1.84 percent, outpacing the regional average of 1.35 percent. However, Cambodia’s 2015 HDI value of 0.563 was still below the average for East Asia and Pacific countries, which stood at 0.721.
 

Cambodia ranked 143 out of 188 countries in its 2015 HDI rankings, putting it in the medium human development group. The group also includes Laos, which ranked 138, and Myanmar, which ranked 145. The HDI calculates citizens’ life expectancy, education and per capita income indicators. This is then used to rank a country into four tiers of human development. Higher scores indicate longer lifespans, improved education levels and a higher per capita GDP.
 

“We celebrate the gains that the country has achieved, but we are looking ahead at strategic ways in addressing the remaining challenges that impede human development,” Nick Beresford, country director of UNDP in Cambodia, said in a statement. Cambodia’s improvement was also reflected in its Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) rankings, which declined compared with 2011. Its MPI decreased from 0.211 in 2011 to 0.150 in 2014, while “the headcount ratio of people in multi-dimensional poverty declined from 46.8 percent to 33.8 percent within the same period.”
 

Life expectancy rates measured at birth also improved compared with 1995. “Cambodia’s life expectancy at birth increased by 15.2 years, mean years of schooling increased by 2.0 years, expected years of schooling increased by 4.2 years and its GNI [Gross National Income] per capita increased by about 277.9 percent,” the statement read.

 

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