Türkiye's HDI value rises but gender inequality lingers, says UN

Türkiye has made strides in human development over the past three decades but challenges persist in areas such as gender inequality and sustainability, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator has said.

The latest report from the UNDP highlights Türkiye's progress in various aspects of human development since 1990.

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) value has risen from 0.598 to 0.855 in 2022, marking a 43 percent increase, UNDP head Achim Steiner said in an interview with the Hürriyet Daily News.

The study points out multiple metrics, including an increase in life expectancy at birth by 10.8 years, a rise in mean years of schooling by 4.4 years and an augmentation in expected years of schooling by 10.8 years.

Additionally, the country's gross national income per capita has surged by 154.3 percent over the same period, Steiner informed.

Türkiye ranked 45th among 193 countries in this year's edition of the HDI based on 2022 data.

However, its ranking slips when the index is adjusted for inequality, Steiner said. "Overall men enjoy a higher level of human development than women [in Türkiye]," he stated, pointing out persistent gender disparities in access to developmental opportunities.

According to the report, Türkiye's ranking falls to 63rd out of 166 countries when adjusted for gender equality.

Moreover, the report highlights challenges in terms of sustainability. When accounting for "planetary pressures," such as carbon dioxide emissions and material footprint per capita, Türkiye's HDI value decreases by 8.4 percent.

The adjustment reflects concerns about the environmental impact of human activities and underscores the importance of sustainable development practices.

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