Cambodia continues to make progress in human development

Since the launch of the Human Development Reports in 1990, Cambodia can proudly claim the eighth fastest growth rate in the world. “This is a remarkable achievement,” said Nick Beresford, Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Cambodia, on September 14th during the release of the 2018 report.

Each year, the UNDP publishes the Human Development Report to assess, encourage, and caution the 189 countries evaluated in 2018. The Human Development Index (HDI)—which ranges from 0 to 1—is calculated based on three core criteria: Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, life expectancy at birth, and the average level of education among children. Wealth, health, education: these are the three pillars of the report, which collectively establish the global human development rankings.

Cambodia: A consistent performer for 28 years…

In 2018, Cambodia experienced a significant increase in its HDI, rising from 0.563 to 0.582 compared to the previous year’s figures. This growth reflects the kingdom’s progress since 1990, when the report was first established. 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 improved by 2.1 years. The country now ranks 146th worldwide, maintaining its position in the medium human development category, although it was overtaken this year by Kenya, Swaziland, and the Marshall Islands (having ranked 143rd the year prior).

This year, Cambodia’s two most notable advancements in human development lie in rising income and life expectancy. Life expectancy rose from 68.8 to 69.3 years over a two-year period, while during the same span, GNI per capita surged from $3,095 to $3,413. Solid progress.

A critical component of the HDI is socio-economic inequality within a country—the greater the disparity, the lower the HDI score. Countries in the medium development category typically lose around 25% of their HDI due to inequality, whereas highly developed nations face a 11% reduction on average. This year, Cambodia saw this penalty ease to 19.4%, compared to 22.5% in 2015. These measurable improvements are promising and sharply contrast with other comparable nations. Still, the work is far from done.

…Yet still lagging behind in Education

The 2018 report flags underwhelming progress in education, deeming improvements in schooling as inconsistent and insufficient. “Data suggests that greater attention must be paid to education. The average years of schooling have barely improved since 2015,” the report states. Inequality is a direct consequence, with “education inequalities higher than in other areas, representing a potential barrier to further reducing disparities,” the UNDP concludes.

These warnings are far from catastrophic, but they offer Cambodia a clear picture of the work still required to achieve sustainable, inclusive development in the years ahead.