Key Economic and Social Development Indicators Explained

Key Development Metrics

Gross National Income (GNI)

The total income earned by a country from different sources.

GNI Per Capita

The average income earned per person in a country.

Literacy Rate

The percentage of the population aged 15 and older who can both read and write.

Life Expectancy

The average number of years a newborn infant could expect to live.

Infant Mortality Rate

The number of babies who die per 1,000 live births.

Human Development Index (HDI)

An indicator measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development:

• A long and healthy life
• Knowledge
• A decent standard of living

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Achieve universal primary education
• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Reduce child mortality
• Improve maternal health
• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
• Ensure environmental sustainability
• Develop a global partnership for development

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Many people feel compelled to address suffering caused by inequality. To facilitate this, various institutions, usually NGOs, organize campaigns with different objectives.

A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens group organized on a local, national, or international level. NGOs perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions. Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, the environment, or health.

The inequality observed in these campaigns is present in all types of countries.

The main indexes that measure economic development are GDP and GNI. On the other hand, the most accurate index that measures human development is the HDI, which stands for Human Development Index. It was created by the UN to provide a real reflection of a country's development and allow for comparison and ranking. The HDI is based on three main aspects: education, health, and wealth.

This issue is an example of the negative consequences of globalisation, where multinationals from a More Economically Developed Country (MEDC) exploit people in a Less Economically Developed Country (LEDC) to achieve higher profits.