India climbs to 130th rank in 2025 Human Development Index

India's progress on the Human Development Index (HDI) continues, with the country now ranked 130 out of 193 nations in the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR), released by the UN Development Programme on May 6.

From 2022 to 2023, India moved up from 133 to 130 in HDI rankings, and its HDI value grew from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023.

The country remains in the medium human development category, edging closer to the high human development threshold of an HDI ≥ 0.700.

However, the report highlighted that inequality continues to have a significant impact, lowering India’s HDI by 30.7%, one of the highest losses in the region.

Although health and education inequalities have seen improvements, income and gender disparities persist.

Female participation in the workforce and political representation remain low, though recent initiatives, such as the constitutional amendment reserving one-third of legislative seats for women, are seen as promising steps for change.

Regarding health, life expectancy in India has slightly increased from 71.7 years to 72.0 years, marking the highest level ever recorded.

While expected years of schooling remained stable at 12.95 years, mean years of schooling saw a rise from 6.57 to 6.88 years.

The report commended India’s progress in education since 1990, citing initiatives like the Right to Education Act, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, and the National Education Policy 2020.

However, it emphasized that quality and learning outcomes still require further improvement.

India’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, based on 2021 purchasing power parity (PPP), increased from USD 8,475.68 to USD 9,046.76, reflecting continued economic growth.

The 2025 HDR, titled “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI,” emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence in shaping future human development, particularly in rapidly developing countries like India.

“We congratulate India on its progress in the Human Development Index, rising from rank 133 in 2022 to 130 in 2023,” said Angela Lusigi, UNDP India’s Resident Representative.

“This reflects sustained improvements in key areas such as schooling and national income per capita,” Lusigi added.

She further noted that India’s life expectancy reaching its highest level is a strong indicator of its recovery from the pandemic and its long-term commitment to human well-being.

India’s HDI value has surged by more than 53% since 1990, outpacing both global and South Asian averages. Economic growth, combined with targeted social welfare and protection programs, has driven much of this improvement.

Life expectancy has risen from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023, the highest recorded since the index was introduced.

Successive national health programs, including the National Rural Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Poshan Abhiyaan, have played an essential role in this achievement.

On the economic front, India’s GNI per capita has more than quadrupled from USD 2,167.22 in 1990 to USD 9,046.76 in 2023.

"India’s economic growth and investments in programs such as MGNREGA, Jan Dhan Yojana, and digital inclusion have contributed to poverty reduction, with 135 million Indians emerging from multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21," the report noted.

India is also establishing itself as a leader in the global AI sector. The country leads in self-reported AI skills penetration, and the retention of homegrown AI talent has significantly improved, with 20% of Indian AI researchers now staying in the country, compared to nearly zero in 2019.

AI is being applied across sectors such as agriculture and healthcare, with new efforts underway to democratize access to this technology.

A global UNDP survey has shown increasing optimism about AI, with 70% of respondents expecting it to boost productivity and 64% believing it will create new job opportunities, particularly for youth.

However, the report also cautioned that global human development progress is slowing, marking the slowest growth since 1990.