Topic 06 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Development & Human Capital
Is a country turning its resources into better lives?
Cook Islands is placed first of 196 countries on development & human capital in the Country Index 2026, and South Sudan 196th. The standing rests on 3 key statistics; the other 58 on this page are published as context, with no vote.
06
3 key statistics
01Country Index 2026
Who leads on development & human capital
The three countries placed highest of 196, the three placed lowest, and the country placed highest on each continent. Each position is a place in this topic’s own list, built from its key statistics.
1
Cook IslandsPolynesia
1st of 196 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Benedict Adam · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed lowest on Development & Human Capital
Positions out of 196. A standing is relative: it says where a country places against the others measured, not that it scored zero.
Placed first on each continent · position among all 196
02The subject
About development & human capital
The long arc: whether a country is converting income into education, health and opportunity, and how far it has travelled toward the Sustainable Development Goals. These are the slowest-moving numbers on the site — a decade is the shortest window in which they say much.
Development is the long view: whether a country is converting what it has into health, schooling and opportunity. The standard composite of long life, education and income sits at its centre, because it was built to show that income alone is not development.
Two harder tests sit beside it. Whether a woman survives giving birth shows the reach of a health system where it is most difficult to fake, and how many people are covered by at least one social protection benefit shows whether a state catches those who fall. These are among the slowest-moving numbers on the site.
What this topic does not measure
Poverty lines, inequality and aid received are published here as context rather than as keys, often because they cover fewer countries or are measured too rarely. Development is also not the same as economic size or growth, which belong to Economy & Innovation.
03The evidence
The 3 statistics that decide it
These are the only statistics that place countries on development & human capital — one vote each. Every number is somebody else’s research, reproduced without adjustment; the ordering on top is this site’s.
Key 1 of 3
Social Protection Coverage
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Why it is a key: The share of people covered by at least one social protection benefit: whether the state catches anybody when they fall.
- Edition used
- 2025data for 2025
- Countries
- 209
- Publisher’s rank
- None — values only
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
Key 2 of 3
Maternal Mortality Ratio
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)
Why it is a key: Whether a woman survives giving birth — the reach of a health system at the moment it is hardest to fake.
- Edition used
- 2023data for 2023
- Countries
- 195
- Publisher’s rank
- None — values only
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0 IGO
Every country, every editionMost affected, 2023 edition
NigeriaKey 3 of 3
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report Office
Why it is a key: The standard composite of health, schooling and income, carrying UNDP's own published rank.
- Edition used
- 2023data for 2023
- Countries
- 193
- Publisher’s rank
- Published
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0 IGO
Every country, every editionCurrent leader, 2023 edition
IcelandHow the keys combine
Each country’s value on each key becomes its place in that key’s own field, as a share of the field. The shares are averaged, one vote per key, and only the order that produces is published.
The method in full
04Every placed country
Development & Human Capital on a map
Darker is placed higher. Hover a country for its position, or select it to open its page. Below the map, each continent’s median position — half its placed countries sit at or above it, so lower is better.
1st of 5 continents
Europe
30th
median position, of 196 · 43 of its 49 countries placed
Highest
Norway2nd of 5 continents
Asia
89th
median position, of 196 · 48 of its 52 countries placed
Highest
Israel3rd of 5 continents
Americas
94th
median position, of 196 · 36 of its 48 countries placed
Highest
Canada4th of 5 continents
Oceania
125th
median position, of 196 · 15 of its 21 countries placed
Highest
Cook Islands5th of 5 continents
Africa
166th
median position, of 196 · 54 of its 55 countries placed
Highest
Seychelles- Every region
All 22 sub-regions on Development & Human Capital, best median first
- 1Australia and New Zealandmedian 11thfrom 2 of 2
Australia11 - 2Northern Europemedian 14thfrom 10 of 13Norway2
- 3Western Europemedian 15thfrom 9 of 9
Germany4 - 4Northern Americamedian 27thfrom 2 of 4Canada=27
- 5Southern Europemedian 35thfrom 14 of 17
Slovenia13 - 6Eastern Asiamedian 40thfrom 5 of 8
Japan18 - 7Eastern Europemedian 42ndfrom 10 of 10
Poland21 - 8Western Asiamedian 76thfrom 18 of 19Israel10
- 9Caribbeanmedian 92ndfrom 14 of 24
Puerto Rico63 - 10Central Asiamedian 93rdfrom 5 of 5
Kazakhstan44 - 11South Americamedian 94thfrom 12 of 12
Uruguay45 - 12Northern Africamedian 100thfrom 6 of 6
Egypt97 - 13Polynesiamedian 115thfrom 4 of 7Cook Islands1
- 14South-eastern Asiamedian 118thfrom 11 of 11
Singapore12 - 15Central Americamedian 120thfrom 8 of 8
Panama69 - 16Melanesiamedian 123rdfrom 4 of 5
Fiji=85 - 17Southern Africamedian 130thfrom 5 of 5
South Africa116 - 18Southern Asiamedian 133rdfrom 9 of 9
Iran48 - 19Micronesiamedian 134thfrom 5 of 7
Palau81 - 20Middle Africamedian 157thfrom 9 of 9
São Tomé and Príncipe=136 - 21Eastern Africamedian 168thfrom 18 of 19Seychelles74
- 22Western Africamedian 179thfrom 16 of 16
Cabo Verde109
05The whole field
Where all 196 countries stand
In order, best first. A row resting on fewer keys rests on less evidence: a country needs 2 of the 3 to be placed at all. “=” marks a position shared with another country. Select a country to see the working behind its standing.
Showing 25 of 196 countries placed on Development & Human Capital
- 1 of 196Cook IslandsPolynesia2/3
- 2 of 196NorwayNorthern Europe3/3
- 3 of 196DenmarkNorthern Europe3/3
- 4 of 196GermanyWestern Europe3/3
- 5 of 196
SwedenNorthern Europe3/3 - 6 of 196
IrelandNorthern Europe3/3 - 7 of 196
BelgiumWestern Europe3/3 - 8 of 196
SwitzerlandWestern Europe3/3 - 9 of 196
NetherlandsWestern Europe3/3 - 10 of 196IsraelWestern Asia3/3
- 11 of 196AustraliaAustralia and New Zealand3/3
- 12 of 196SingaporeSouth-eastern Asia3/3
- 13 of 196SloveniaSouthern Europe3/3
- 14 of 196IcelandNorthern Europe3/3
- 15 of 196
AustriaWestern Europe3/3 - =16 of 196
FinlandNorthern Europe3/3 - =16 of 196
New ZealandAustralia and New Zealand3/3 - 18 of 196JapanEastern Asia3/3
- =19 of 196
FranceWestern Europe3/3 - =19 of 196
LiechtensteinWestern Europe2/3 - 21 of 196PolandEastern Europe3/3
- 22 of 196
EstoniaNorthern Europe3/3 - 23 of 196
LuxembourgWestern Europe3/3 - 24 of 196
South KoreaEastern Asia3/3 - 25 of 196
United KingdomNorthern Europe3/3 - 26 of 196
CzechiaEastern Europe3/3 - =27 of 196CanadaNorthern America3/3
- =27 of 196
SpainSouthern Europe3/3 - 29 of 196
LithuaniaNorthern Europe3/3 - 30 of 196
CroatiaSouthern Europe3/3 - 31 of 196
SlovakiaEastern Europe3/3 - =32 of 196
GreeceSouthern Europe3/3 - =32 of 196
ItalySouthern Europe3/3 - 34 of 196
PortugalSouthern Europe3/3 - =35 of 196
MaltaSouthern Europe3/3 - =35 of 196
San MarinoSouthern Europe3/3 - 37 of 196
CyprusWestern Asia3/3 - 38 of 196
AndorraSouthern Europe3/3 - 39 of 196
BulgariaEastern Europe3/3 - 40 of 196
Hong KongEastern Asia2/3 - 41 of 196
LatviaNorthern Europe3/3 - 42 of 196
RussiaEastern Europe3/3 - 43 of 196
HungaryEastern Europe3/3 - 44 of 196KazakhstanCentral Asia3/3
- 45 of 196UruguaySouth America3/3
- 46 of 196
United StatesNorthern America3/3 - 47 of 196
MontenegroSouthern Europe3/3 - 48 of 196IranSouthern Asia3/3
- 49 of 196
BahrainWestern Asia3/3 - 50 of 196
Saudi ArabiaWestern Asia3/3 - 51 of 196
ChileSouth America3/3 - 52 of 196
GeorgiaWestern Asia3/3 - 53 of 196
RomaniaEastern Europe3/3 - 54 of 196
AlbaniaSouthern Europe3/3 - =55 of 196
MonacoWestern Europe2/3 - =55 of 196
North MacedoniaSouthern Europe3/3 - 57 of 196
BelarusEastern Europe3/3 - =58 of 196
SerbiaSouthern Europe3/3 - =58 of 196
TürkiyeWestern Asia3/3 - 60 of 196
Bosnia and HerzegovinaSouthern Europe3/3 - 61 of 196
ArgentinaSouth America3/3 - 62 of 196
ChinaEastern Asia3/3 - 63 of 196Puerto RicoCaribbean2/3
- 64 of 196
United Arab EmiratesWestern Asia3/3 - 65 of 196
UkraineEastern Europe3/3 - 66 of 196
Antigua and BarbudaCaribbean3/3 - 67 of 196
Saint Kitts and NevisCaribbean3/3 - 68 of 196
GuyanaSouth America3/3 - 69 of 196PanamaCentral America3/3
- 70 of 196
Costa RicaCentral America3/3 - 71 of 196
ThailandSouth-eastern Asia3/3 - 72 of 196
MexicoCentral America3/3 - 73 of 196
TurkmenistanCentral Asia3/3 - 74 of 196SeychellesEastern Africa3/3
- 75 of 196
MongoliaEastern Asia3/3 - =76 of 196
KuwaitWestern Asia3/3 - =76 of 196
OmanWestern Asia3/3 - 78 of 196
ArmeniaWestern Asia3/3 - 79 of 196
BarbadosCaribbean3/3 - 80 of 196
MauritiusEastern Africa3/3 - 81 of 196PalauMicronesia3/3
- 82 of 196
QatarWestern Asia3/3 - 83 of 196
CubaCaribbean3/3 - 84 of 196
MoldovaEastern Europe3/3 - =85 of 196FijiMelanesia3/3
- =85 of 196
Trinidad and TobagoCaribbean3/3 - 87 of 196
BrazilSouth America3/3 - 88 of 196
BruneiSouth-eastern Asia3/3 - =89 of 196
AzerbaijanWestern Asia3/3 - =89 of 196
Sri LankaSouthern Asia3/3 - 91 of 196
MalaysiaSouth-eastern Asia3/3 - 92 of 196
GrenadaCaribbean3/3 - 93 of 196
UzbekistanCentral Asia3/3 - 94 of 196
ColombiaSouth America3/3 - 95 of 196
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesCaribbean3/3 - 96 of 196
DominicaCaribbean3/3 - 97 of 196EgyptNorthern Africa3/3
- 98 of 196
TunisiaNorthern Africa3/3 - 99 of 196
BahamasCaribbean3/3 - 100 of 196
AlgeriaNorthern Africa3/3 - 101 of 196
LibyaNorthern Africa3/3 - 102 of 196
EcuadorSouth America3/3 - 103 of 196
MaldivesSouthern Asia3/3 - 104 of 196
TajikistanCentral Asia3/3 - 105 of 196
VietnamSouth-eastern Asia3/3 - =106 of 196
Dominican RepublicCaribbean3/3 - =106 of 196
LebanonWestern Asia3/3 - =106 of 196
PeruSouth America3/3 - 109 of 196Cabo VerdeWestern Africa3/3
- =110 of 196
JordanWestern Asia3/3 - =110 of 196
Saint LuciaCaribbean3/3 - 112 of 196
KyrgyzstanCentral Asia3/3 - 113 of 196
ParaguaySouth America3/3 - 114 of 196
IndiaSouthern Asia3/3 - 115 of 196
TongaPolynesia3/3 - 116 of 196South AfricaSouthern Africa3/3
- 117 of 196
IraqWestern Asia3/3 - 118 of 196
IndonesiaSouth-eastern Asia3/3 - 119 of 196
PalestineWestern Asia3/3 - 120 of 196
BelizeCentral America3/3 - 121 of 196
SyriaWestern Asia2/3 - 122 of 196
SurinameSouth America3/3 - 123 of 196
VanuatuMelanesia3/3 - 124 of 196
PhilippinesSouth-eastern Asia3/3 - 125 of 196
NauruMicronesia3/3 - 126 of 196
HondurasCentral America3/3 - 127 of 196
BoliviaSouth America3/3 - 128 of 196
El SalvadorCentral America3/3 - 129 of 196
NamibiaSouthern Africa3/3 - 130 of 196
EswatiniSouthern Africa3/3 - 131 of 196
MoroccoNorthern Africa3/3 - 132 of 196
JamaicaCaribbean3/3 - 133 of 196
BhutanSouthern Asia3/3 - 134 of 196
Marshall IslandsMicronesia3/3 - 135 of 196
NicaraguaCentral America3/3 - =136 of 196
SamoaPolynesia3/3 - =136 of 196São Tomé and PríncipeMiddle Africa3/3
- 138 of 196
BangladeshSouthern Asia3/3 - 139 of 196
KiribatiMicronesia3/3 - =140 of 196
GabonMiddle Africa2/3 - =140 of 196
VenezuelaSouth America3/3 - 142 of 196
ZambiaEastern Africa3/3 - 143 of 196
BotswanaSouthern Africa3/3 - 144 of 196
GuatemalaCentral America3/3 - 145 of 196
NepalSouthern Asia3/3 - 146 of 196
CambodiaSouth-eastern Asia3/3 - =147 of 196
LaosSouth-eastern Asia3/3 - =147 of 196
MicronesiaMicronesia3/3 - =147 of 196
Timor-LesteSouth-eastern Asia3/3 - 150 of 196
GhanaWestern Africa3/3 - 151 of 196
Solomon IslandsMelanesia3/3 - 152 of 196
TogoWestern Africa3/3 - 153 of 196
Republic of the CongoMiddle Africa2/3 - 154 of 196
PakistanSouthern Asia3/3 - 155 of 196
TuvaluPolynesia3/3 - 156 of 196
Equatorial GuineaMiddle Africa3/3 - 157 of 196
AngolaMiddle Africa3/3 - 158 of 196
MauritaniaWestern Africa3/3 - 159 of 196
MalawiEastern Africa3/3 - 160 of 196
SenegalWestern Africa3/3 - 161 of 196
ZimbabweEastern Africa3/3 - 162 of 196
MyanmarSouth-eastern Asia3/3 - 163 of 196
DjiboutiEastern Africa3/3 - 164 of 196
Papua New GuineaMelanesia3/3 - 165 of 196
MozambiqueEastern Africa3/3 - 166 of 196
CameroonMiddle Africa3/3 - 167 of 196
KenyaEastern Africa3/3 - =168 of 196
ComorosEastern Africa3/3 - =168 of 196
RwandaEastern Africa3/3 - 170 of 196
YemenWestern Asia3/3 - 171 of 196
Côte d’IvoireWestern Africa3/3 - 172 of 196
UgandaEastern Africa3/3 - 173 of 196
TanzaniaEastern Africa3/3 - 174 of 196
EthiopiaEastern Africa3/3 - 175 of 196
NigerWestern Africa3/3 - 176 of 196
SudanNorthern Africa3/3 - 177 of 196
HaitiCaribbean3/3 - 178 of 196
LesothoSouthern Africa3/3 - 179 of 196NigeriaWestern Africa3/3
- 180 of 196
Burkina FasoWestern Africa3/3 - 181 of 196
EritreaEastern Africa3/3 - =182 of 196
BurundiEastern Africa3/3 - =182 of 196
MadagascarEastern Africa3/3 - 184 of 196
GambiaWestern Africa3/3 - 185 of 196
MaliWestern Africa3/3 - 186 of 196
BeninWestern Africa3/3 - 187 of 196
DR CongoMiddle Africa3/3 - 188 of 196
Sierra LeoneWestern Africa3/3 - 189 of 196
AfghanistanSouthern Asia3/3 - 190 of 196
LiberiaWestern Africa3/3 - =191 of 196
GuineaWestern Africa3/3 - =191 of 196
Guinea-BissauWestern Africa3/3 - 193 of 196
Central African RepublicMiddle Africa3/3 - =194 of 196
ChadMiddle Africa3/3 - =194 of 196
SomaliaEastern Africa3/3 - 196 of 196
South SudanEastern Africa3/3
28 countries measured in the index but not placed on development & human capital
Each holds readings on too few of this topic’s key statistics to be placed. Their profiles still show every reading the publishers give.
- American Samoa
- Anguilla
- Aruba
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Channel Islands
- Curaçao
- Faroe Islands
- French Polynesia
- Gibraltar
- Greenland
- Guam
- Isle of Man
- Kosovo
- Macau
- Montserrat
- New Caledonia
- Niue
- North Korea
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Saint Martin
- Sint Maarten
- Somaliland
- Taiwan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United States Virgin Islands
- Vatican City
06Beyond the headline
A different story
The countries placed furthest above and below their overall position in the Country Index 2026. Both positions are compared as a share of their own field, because 50th of 193 and 50th of 174 are not the same showing.
Placed higher on Development & Human Capital than overall
Placed lower on Development & Human Capital than overall
07In records
Development in records
One country at the extreme of a statistic under this topic, read from its newest edition. Where countries tie at the top, no record is named.
Highest human development
0.972
on UNDP’s 0–1 index
Lowest maternal mortality
0.11
deaths per 100,000 live births
Highest cereal yield
29,147
kilograms per hectare
08Latest editions
Who rose and fell in the published ranks
The biggest moves between each report’s two newest editions, in the publisher’s own ranks — reports under this topic that print a rank. A report whose field changed by more than 5% is left out.
Ranks as published by UNDP Human Development Report Office in the Human Development Index: reference years 2022 (192 countries ranked) → 2023 (193 ranked), both from its 2025 report.
Improved most
rank before → after- United Arab Emirates23 → 15+8
- Guyana95 → 89+6
- Andorra37 → 32+5
Ranks as published by UNDP Human Development Report Office in the Gender Inequality Index: reference years 2022 (172 countries ranked) → 2023 (172 ranked), both from its 2025 report.
Improved most
rank before → after- Benin166 → 153+13
- Sierra Leone162 → 152+10
- Tonga122 → 115+7
09Context, no vote
Also measured under development & human capital
58 more statistics on the same subject, published in full and deliberately given no vote — keeping them out is what stops the standing drifting toward whichever kind of statistic was imported most. Select a row for its leader and trend.
Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 222 countries · 2023UN DESA Population Division2222023
Current leader:
MonacoUN DESA Population Division · 74 editions, data 1950–2023
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 215 countries · 2024World Bank Group2152024
World Bank Group · 35 editions, data 1990–2024
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 211 countries · 2025ILO2112025
International Labour Organization (ILO) · 1 edition
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 209 countries · 2024World Bank Group2092024
World Bank Group · 35 editions, data 1990–2024
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 200 countries · 2024UN IGME2002024
Most affected:
South SudanUN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) · 72 editions, data 1953–2024
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 200 countries · 2024UN IGME2002024
Most affected:
PalestineUN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) · 35 editions, data 1990–2024
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 200 countries · 2024UN IGME2002024
Most affected:
South SudanUN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) · 56 editions, data 1969–2024
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 200 countries · 2023UN IGME2002023
Most affected:
SomaliaUN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) · 24 editions, data 2000–2023
Under-Five Mortality RateUN IGME · 200 countries · 2024UN IGME2002024
Most affected:
NigeriaUN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) · 73 editions, data 1952–2024
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 200 countries · 2024ILO2002024
International Labour Organization (ILO) · 1 edition
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 195 countries · 2023UNDP Human Development Report Office1952023
Current leader:
MonacoUNDP Human Development Report Office · 34 editions, data 1990–2023
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 195 countries · 2025WUENIC1952025
WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC) · 46 editions, data 1980–2025
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 195 countries · 2025WUENIC1952025
WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC) · 45 editions, data 1981–2025
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 195 countries · 2022UNCTAD1952022
Current leader:
DenmarkUN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) · 23 editions, data 2000–2022
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 193 countries · 2024ILO1932024
International Labour Organization (ILO) · 1 edition
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 193 countries · 2023UNDP Human Development Report Office1932023
Current leader:
GermanyUNDP Human Development Report Office · 34 editions, data 1990–2023
Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 190 countries · 2024ILO1902024
International Labour Organization (ILO) · 1 edition
Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 189 countries · 2025ILO1892025
International Labour Organization (ILO) · 1 edition
Statistical Performance IndicatorsWorld Bank Group · 188 countries · 2024World Bank Group1882024
Current leader:
NorwayWorld Bank Group · 9 editions, data 2016–2024
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 185 countries · 2025UNICEF1852025
UNICEF · 1 edition
GDP per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 185 countries · 2025World Bank Group1852025
Current leader:
SingaporeWorld Bank Group · 36 editions, data 1990–2025
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 184 countries · 2023UNDP Human Development Report Office1842023
Current leader:
UkraineUNDP Human Development Report Office · 34 editions, data 1990–2023
Cereal YieldFAO · 179 countries · 2023FAO1792023
Current leader:
OmanFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 63 editions, data 1961–2023
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 172 countries · 2023UNDP Human Development Report Office1722023
Most affected:
YemenUNDP Human Development Report Office · 34 editions, data 1990–2023
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 172 countries · 2020World Bank Group1722020
Current leader:
SingaporeWorld Bank Group · 4 editions, data 2010–2020
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 171 countries · 2024World Bank Group1712024
Most affected:
South SudanWorld Bank Group · 44 editions, data 1981–2024
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 169 countries · 2023UNDP Human Development Report Office1692023
Most affected:
SomaliaUNDP Human Development Report Office · 14 editions, data 2010–2023
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 169 countries · 2023UNDP Human Development Report Office1692023
Current leader:
IcelandUNDP Human Development Report Office · 14 editions, data 2010–2023
Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison)GGDC · 166 countries · 2022GGDC1662022
Current leader:
QatarMaddison Project, Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC) · 112 editions, data 1820–2022
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 163 countries · 2024UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)1632024
Most affected:
South SudanUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 1 edition
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 162 countries · 2024UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)1622024
Most affected:
BurundiUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 1 edition
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 158 countries · 2020UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates)1582020
Most affected:
IndiaUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 21 editions, data 2000–2020
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 158 countries · 2025World Bank Group1582025
Planetary pressures-adjusted HDIUNDP Human Development Report Office · 156 countries · 2023UNDP Human Development Report Office1562023
Current leader:
United KingdomUNDP Human Development Report Office · 34 editions, data 1990–2023
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 151 countries · 2020World Bank Group1512020
Current leader:
SwitzerlandWorld Bank Group · 26 editions, data 1995–2020
Comprehensive Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 150 countries · 2020World Bank Group1502020
Current leader:
SwitzerlandWorld Bank Group · 26 editions, data 1995–2020
Child MarriageUNICEF · 145 countries · 2025UNICEF1452025
Account Ownership at a Financial InstitutionWorld Bank Group · 139 countries · 2024World Bank Group1392024
Current leader:
IcelandWorld Bank Group · 5 editions, data 2011–2024
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 136 countries · 2024UNICEF1362024
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 123 countries · 2023World Bank Group1232023
Foundational ID OwnershipWorld Bank Group (ID4D) · 120 countries · 2024World Bank Group (ID4D)1202024
World Bank Group (ID4D) · 3 editions, data 2017–2024
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 109 countries · 2025OPHI1092025
Most affected:
ChadOxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) · 8 editions
GNI per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 102 countries · 2025World Bank Group1022025
Current leader:
SingaporeWorld Bank Group · 32 editions, data 1994–2025
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 90 countries · 2025UNICEF902025
Country Policy and Institutional AssessmentWorld Bank Group · 78 countries · 2025World Bank Group782025
Current leader:
RwandaWorld Bank Group · 21 editions, data 2005–2025
Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum)MAP · 76 countries · 2024MAP762024
Most affected:
Sierra LeoneMalaria Atlas Project (MAP) · 25 editions, data 2000–2024
Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum)MAP · 75 countries · 2025MAP752025
Most affected:
BeninMalaria Atlas Project (MAP) · 26 editions, data 2000–2025
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 60 countries · 2023World Bank Group602023
Most affected:
UgandaWorld Bank Group · 22 editions, data 2002–2023
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 60 countries · 2023World Bank Group602023
Most affected:
UgandaWorld Bank Group · 22 editions, data 2002–2023
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a DayWorld Bank Group · 60 countries · 2023World Bank Group602023
Most affected:
UgandaWorld Bank Group · 22 editions, data 2002–2023
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a DayWorld Bank Group · 60 countries · 2023World Bank Group602023
Most affected:
UgandaWorld Bank Group · 22 editions, data 2002–2023
Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 60 countries · 2023World Bank Group602023
Most affected:
UgandaWorld Bank Group · 22 editions, data 2002–2023
Prosperity GapWorld Bank Group · 60 countries · 2023World Bank Group602023
Most affected:
UgandaWorld Bank Group · 22 editions, data 2002–2023
Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI)OECD Development Assistance Committee · 43 countries · 2025OECD Development Assistance Committee432025
Current leader:
NorwayOECD Development Assistance Committee · 8 editions, data 2018–2025
Malaria Incidence (P. vivax)MAP · 38 countries · 2025MAP382025
Most affected:
Solomon IslandsMalaria Atlas Project (MAP) · 26 editions, data 2000–2025
Describing the shape of a country (3)
These have no better end — more is not better or worse, only different — so they could not place countries even as keys.
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 132 countries · 2025World Bank Group1322025
Highest:
Puerto RicoWorld Bank Group · 49 editions, data 1977–2025
Net Official Development Assistance ReceivedOECD Development Assistance Committee · 130 countries · 2023OECD Development Assistance Committee1302023
Highest:
TuvaluOECD Development Assistance Committee · 58 editions, data 1966–2023
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 62 countries · 2024UNICEF622024
10Analysis
Charts and analysis on development & human capital
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
11Keep reading
Explore further
The most-read profiles, on Development & Human Capital
How Development & Human Capital relates to the other topics
- Moves most with: Health & WellbeingCountries place very similarly on both. (0.92, 193 countries)
- Moves most with: Economy & InnovationCountries place very similarly on both. (0.90, 175 countries)
- Moves least with: Environment & SustainabilityCountries placed high on one tend to place low on the other. (-0.60, 184 countries)
Rank correlation of the two topics’ positions across the countries placed on both: 1 means the same order, 0 no link. Every pair of topics
The other topics
The full Country Index 2026- Governance & InstitutionsFirst: Denmark
- Economy & InnovationFirst: Austria
- Work & LabourFirst: Iceland
- Education & KnowledgeFirst: United Arab Emirates
- Health & WellbeingFirst: San Marino
- Environment & SustainabilityFirst: Angola
- Gender & EqualityFirst: Latvia
- Democracy & Civil LibertiesFirst: Norway
- Peace & SecurityFirst: Iceland
- Risk & ResilienceFirst: Liechtenstein
- Mobility & TradeFirst: Singapore
- Food & AgricultureFirst: Serbia
- Poverty & InequalityFirst: Belarus
- Money & Public Finance
- EnergyFirst: Bhutan
- Digital & TechnologyFirst: Estonia
- People & Population
- Every topic, side by side
12Method
Questions, method and sources
Which country is placed first on development & human capital in the Country Index 2026?
Cook Islands, of the 196 countries given a standing on Development & Human Capital. The standing is this site’s own, built from 3 key statistics by 17 publishers; it is not a rank any of those publishers printed.
Which country is placed last on development & human capital?
South Sudan, 196th of 196. A standing says how a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move.
Which statistics decide the Development & Human Capital standing?
Social Protection Coverage, Maternal Mortality Ratio, Human Development Index. Each is read at one edition and turned into a place within its own field; the places are averaged with one vote each. The other 58 statistics on this topic are published as context and have no vote.
Why is a country not placed on development & human capital?
A country needs readings on at least 2 of the 3 key statistics before it is placed. 28 countries in the Country Index fall short on this topic; every reading the publishers do give for them is still on their profiles.
Are these the publishers’ own rankings?
The underlying numbers and any printed ranks are the publishers’, reproduced without adjustment on each statistic’s page. The standing that combines them is this site’s, and the average it is ordered by is never published — only the position it produces.
How the Development & Human Capital standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 3 indicators on this topic are keys and 58 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. ⚠ The keys behind this standing do not all describe the same year — they run from 2023 to 2025, because publishers release on their own schedules. Read the standing as “how this country places now”, not as a snapshot of one year.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 2 of this topic’s 3 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 196 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 3.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- Social Protection Coverage — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Maternal Mortality Ratio — UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Human Development Index — UNDP Human Development Report Office, CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 58 statistics on this page come from 16 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
The countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Cook Islands — Benedict Adam, CC BY 2.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Development & Human Capital: country standings, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/topics/development