Human Development

Human Development Reports, which is linked to the United Nations Development Programme, has put together some really cool data charting "human development."

What is human development?

It is about creating "an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests." It's about choices--about giving people choices that can let them be all they can be. Further:

Fundamental to enlarging these choices is building human capabilities —the range of things that people can do or be in life. The most basic capabilities for human development are to lead long and healthy lives, to be knowledgeable, to have access to the resources needed for a decent standard of living and to be able to participate in the life of the community. Without these, many choices are simply not available, and many opportunities in life remain inaccessible.

The US ranks 15th on the list of High Human Development, nestled between Austria (above) and Spain (below). Bloggers at The Map Scroll have built this map from the data:

Very interesting, if not very surprising.


Thanks to Andrew Sullivan