Global rich countries have achieved record levels while poorer countries fall behind as polarization and inequality block solutions to global challenges.
Turkiye ranks 45th among 193 countries this year on the Human Development Index released today by the United Nations Development Programme. Based on 2022 data, Turkiye lands in the highest human development category for the fourth year, the highest of four. However, the ranking provides good news for prosperous countries as it shows a worrying divergence in human development outcomes, with poorer countries failing to regain the ground lost during the pandemic.
The HDI hit a record high globally, rebounding from two years of pandemic declines. However, the average economy is widening inequality, as half of the world's poorest countries failed to regain their pre-pandemic level. "Like most of the world's wealthier countries, Turkiye has bounced back vigorously from pandemic setbacks," said UNDP Turkiye Resident Representative Louisa Vinton. "But this encouraging progress is overshadowed by resurgent inequality threatening millions of people worldwide with the risk of being left behind." UNDP's HDI was created 34 years ago to provide a fuller measure of human well-being than that afforded by financially focused indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP). It combines three key measures- a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living. Turkiye has shown remarkable improvement over three decades- the country's HDI value rose from 0.598 in 1990 to 0.855 in 2022, a 43 per cent increase.
Turkiye has seen progress across all three aspects of the HDI- life expectancy at birth increased by 10.8 years between 1990 and 2022, mean years of schooling increased by 4.4 years, and expected years of education increased by 10.8 years. And the gross national income of nations per capita surged by 154.3 per cent in a similar period.
However, the Turkiye ranking slips when the HDI is adjusted for inequality. Overall, men enjoy more human development than women, so when adjusted for gender equality, Turkiye falls to 63rd of 166 countries. The new rankings are based on national statistics and data reported in 2022, so it does not reflect the impact of the February 2023 earthquakes. Despite the massive loss of life and the biggest scale of the damage caused by the disaster, a government assessment prepared with UNDP's support estimated total damages and losses at US$103.6 billion or 9 per cent of forecast GDP for 2023. The earthquakes are not expected to affect the country's HDI ranking.
The HDI's rankings are a core part of the Human Development Report published each year by UNDP. The 2023 and 24 editions entitled Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarized World warn that uneven development progress leaves the poorest behind, exacerbating inequality and stoking global polarization. The report finds that an emerging democracy paradox hinders international collective action: while nine in ten people worldwide endorse democracy, over half of the global survey respondents, express support for leaders that may undermine it by bypassing fundamental rules of the democratic process. Half the people surveyed worldwide report having no or limited influence on their government's decisions. The report concludes that such feelings of powerlessness combined with growing political polarization are causing some countries to turn inward precisely when renewed cooperation is vital. Pronouncing deglobalization as an irresponsible illusion, the report recommends collective action to create a new generation of global public goods to solve cross-border challenges such as climate change. "In a world marked by increasing polarization and divide, neglecting to invest in each other poses a serious threat to our wellbeing and security," said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. "Protectionist approaches cannot address our complex, interconnected challenges, including pandemic prevention, climate change, and digital regulation. Our problems are intertwined, requiring equally interconnected solutions."
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