Human Development Index

Human Development Index

The Human Development Index is a summary measure for assessing progress in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to education and a decent standard of living. Zambia 's HDI value is 0.398. Therefore, it is considered a low developed country; positioning it at 139 out of 188 countries and territories. The rank is shared with Bangladesh and Ghana.

Longevity

Zambia is one of the poorest countries in the world, with surprising inequalities between the rich and the poor. Sixty per cent of all Zambians live below the poverty line. Significant deterioration in the quality of life has occurred simultaneously with reported economic growth of 4.3 per cent in 2015. The social divisions

Although Zambia has had no war over the years, it is still in the same category with countries devastated by wars. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Life Expectancy Rankings for the year 2015, Zambia 's average life expectancy, which was 48 years in 2005, has risen to an all-time high of 60.8 years! The most significant reason for this rise in life expectancy is the development and improvement of health care facilities in Zambia. Tuberculosis was a popular deathly disease within Zambia but by 2015 its occurrence was reduced. The main reason for the reduction in the Tuberculosis infection rate is the introduction of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme, which focuses on addressing the problem and implementation of the Tuberculosis control strategy in a consistent and effective manner. Other factors that have led to a decline in the number of Tuberculosis cases, include a good monitoring and evaluation system, quality assured drugs for patient management and care, as well as availability of effective treatment. Therefore, Life expectancy was inevitable to rise, as the improvement of medical care and the reduction of tuberculosis lead to a fall in deaths from deathly

Maternal mortality declined from 729 deaths per 100,000 births in 2002 to 591 in 2007 and 398 in 2013-2014. Under five mortalities fell from 191 deaths per 1,000 births in 1992 to 75 in 2013-2014. Between 2007 and 2013-2014, under-five mortality decreased by nearly 37 per cent. Infant mortality has also dropped, from 107 deaths per 1,000 births in 1992 to 45 per 1,000 in