On March 13, 2024 the United Nations Development Programme unveiled the Human Development Index (HDI) results for 2023/2024 spotlighting global and national development dynamics. Kazakhstan being at 67th with a score of 0.802 has experienced an 11-position decline from the 2021/2022 rating amidst a broader competitive global context involving 193 countries, including new entrants Nauru and Somalia.
Within this kaleidoscope of global human progress the top ten echelons were adorned by nations like Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Hong Kong (China), Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Singapore, and Australia, emblematic of pinnacle human development. Conversely, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Somalia anchored the index, reflecting persistent developmental adversities.
Kazakhstan's nuanced journey through the HDI highlighted incremental gains in "Expected Life Span at Birth" (from 69.4 to 69.5 years) and "Mean Years of Schooling" (from 12.3 to 12.4 years).
Nonetheless, challenges manifested in "Expected Years of Schooling" (dipping from 15.8 to 14.8 years) and "Gross National Income per Capita" (declining from USD 23,943 to USD 22,587) nudged the nation downward in the index.
Despite these oscillations, Kazakhstan's steadfast positioning within the realm of very high human development underscores its resilient developmental fabric. The ascent of countries like Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and Saint Kitts and Nevis driven by holistic improvements across key indicators, contextualizes Kazakhstan's trajectory amidst a dynamic and evolving global development landscape.
The report also underscores a burgeoning divergence between the highest and lowest HDI scorers since 2020 challenging the optimistic convergence envisioned towards a globally elevated human development threshold by 2030. This evolving narrative underscores the complexities and exigencies of fostering human development in an era marked by pervasive global shifts and uncertainties.
