Human Development Index in the Indian Subcontinent

Color-Coded HDI Map for States, Provinces, and Territories

Below is a color-coded map showing the HDI data for the Indian subcontinent.

A few points to note:

• This map provides HDI data for subdivisions of countries in the Indian subcontinent. So it shows the HDI data for each Indian state and union territory; each Pakistani province and territory; each Bangladeshi division; and each Nepali province.

• For Sri Lanka and Bhutan, while the map shows subdivisions, the color-coding is based simply on the national average HDI score. So, for example, it is likely that the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka have a lower HDI than the southwestern parts (due in part to the Civil War and the location of Colombo). However, although this map shows such subdivisions, the HDI score does not reflect these differences and simply shows the national HDI score.

• Maldives is not included in this map — it was difficult to make it show up on the map given its small size.

• The HDI data is from 2018, except for the case of Nepal, where the data is from 2019. This is because Nepali subdivisions were redrawn after 2018 and it was difficult to map the 2018 data to the current subdivisions.

• The HDI data for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is inflated. This is because, some time after 2018, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) were merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. FATA had a lower HDI than Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The color and score used for the current combined Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is simply the score for the unmerged Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 2018.

• There may be some discrepancy in the HDI data for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. In 2018, these two Union Territories comprised one state. The HDI score for that combined state has been applied to both the current Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories. It is possible that one of the two Union Territories should have a higher score, and the other a lower score.