Jamaica improves ranking in UN Human Development Index

Jamaica has improved its ranking in the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) by 20 places, according to the latest Human Development Report (HDR).
Jamaica placed 80th out of a total of 169 countries examined in 2010, in comparison to its placing of 100 in 2009. This moves the country from the category of Medium Human Development to that of High Human Development.
According to the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), the Government is pleased with the findings from the HDR, which will be unveiled along with the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC) 2008/2009, when the publications are launched jointly by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the PIOJ.
Prime Minister the Honourable Bruce Golding is expected to launch the reports on November 23, while presentations will be made by Co-Author, Head HDR Research Team, New York, Dr Francisco Rodriquez; Chairman of the Early Childhood Commission, Professor Maureen Samms-Vaughn, and Manager, Policy Research Unit at the PIOJ, Caren Nelson.
The HDI in 2010 is a measure based on three specific dimensions of human development – a long and healthy life (life expectancy at birth); knowledge (mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling), and a decent standard of living.
This significant change in Jamaica’s position from the HDI reflects an upward movement in the life expectancy indicator, which was estimated at 72.3 years, up from 71.7 years in the 2009 report.
The JSLC monitors Jamaica’s development on the basis of key social indicators. It captures 0.33 per cent of all households islandwide. Findings from the JSLC will point to a narrowing gap between the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA) and other urban areas, as Other Towns showed improvements in many indices.
In Other Towns, for example, consumption increased and poverty remained stable in spite of the global recession.