Human Development progress is decelerating at alarming rate says new UNDP Human Development Report

(UNDP) For 30 years, the Human Development Index (HDI) showed a consistent increase in development progress and a decrease in inequality. Although the crises of 2020-2021 disrupted this trend, last year’s report saw tentative signs of recovery. The 2025 HDR has quashed this optimism.

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Amid ongoing global turmoil, inequality has increased for the fourth consecutive year. The situation is especially severe for countries with the lowest Human Development Index (HDI) scores, as the most vulnerable continue to fall further behind. According to the new report, Sri Lanka’s HDI rank remains at 89, while the Gender Inequality Index has risen to 93 from 122 in 2024. The HDI measures the average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living.

Marking a pivotal moment for digital transformation and inclusive development, Sri Lanka, on Friday, launched the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), titled ‘A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI’.

The launch event was co-hosted by the Ministry of Digital Economy (MoDE) and UNDP in Sri Lanka with the participation of Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy; Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy; Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Acting Secretary, Ministry of Digital Economy; Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka, among other high-level dignitaries. The event served as a platform for a multi-stakeholder dialogue, bringing together over 200 participants from the government, development partners, UN agencies, the private sector, academia, and civil society.