25 Sept. 2018Since 1990 and the creation of Human Development Reports, Cambodia can pride itself on having the 8th fastest growth rate in the world. "This is a remarkable achievement," declared Nick Beresford, Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Cambodia, on 14 September during the release of the 2018 report.

The UNDP publishes an annual Human Development Report to assess, encourage, and caution the countries referenced—189 in 2018. The Human Development Index (HDI), which ranges from 0 to 1, is calculated according to three criteria: Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, life expectancy at birth, and level of education among children. Wealth, health, education. These are the three pillars of the report that establish a human development ranking.

Cambodia, a Diligent Student for 28 Years...

In 2018, Cambodia experienced a significant increase in its HDI, rising from 0.563 to 0.582 compared to the 2017 report figures. This growth echoes the kingdom's results since 1990 and the creation of this study. Over 28 years, Cambodia's GNI per capita has increased by approximately 265.8%, life expectancy at birth has risen by 15.7 years, and the average number of years of schooling has progressed by 2.1 years. The country now ranks 146th globally. It remains firmly anchored in the category of medium human development countries, despite being surpassed by Kenya, Eswatini, and the Marshall Islands compared to the previous year (143rd).

This year, the two major human development shifts in Cambodia lie in the increase in wealth and life expectancy. The latter rose over two years from 68.8 to 69.3 years, while over the same period, GNI per capita jumped from $3,095 to $3,413. Solid progress.

An essential element of the HDI concerns socio-economic inequalities within a country—the greater they are, the lower the HDI. Medium human development territories lose approximately 25% of their HDI score due to these inequalities, while highly developed countries are penalized by 11%. This year, Cambodia sees this penalty ease and reach 19.4% compared to 22.5% in 2015. Quantifiable progress of good omen, starkly contrasting with other comparable states. Yet not everything is settled, and work must continue.

... But Nonetheless Lagging in Education

The 2018 report highlights contestable and insufficiently significant improvements in school enrollment. "The data suggest that greater attention must be paid to education. Average years of schooling have scarcely improved since 2015," the report explains. The phenomenon of inequalities stems from this, "they are high in terms of education compared to other components and constitute a potential obstacle to further reductions in inequalities," concludes the UNDP. These warnings are still far from alarming or catastrophic but can help Cambodia understand the road ahead for its future development.

Charlène NomadaysAn SEO writer from the earliest days at Nomadays, Charlène became content manager and head of the communications department, accompanying the adventure since its inception with passion and loyalty. After living seven years in Asia—from China to Thailand, passing through Mongolia and South Korea—she has made travel her way of engaging with the world. A lover of words, nature, and human connection, she strives to convey in her writing a sensitive, engaged, and responsible vision of tourism. For her, each article is a bridge between curiosity, respect, and wonder.