Introduced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1990, the Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite statistic of education, income and longevity indices, calculated in order to measure social and economic development within countries.^[1][2] It consists of a number between 0 and 1, comprising five tiers of human development—very low, low, medium, high, or very high—wherein the development is considered higher when closer to 1.^[3] According to the latest Human Development Report, published in 2015 and reflecting data from 2014, Brazil placed 75th among 188 countries with an HDI value of 0.755.^[4][5] The UNDP highlighted the "rapid advance" of Brazil in two decades, leaving a situation of low human development (0.590) in 1990, reaching medium development (0.669) in 2000 and, finally, achieving high human development (0.726) in 2010.^[6][7][8]

In order to bring a human development perspective to the national level, the UNDP also created, in 1998, the Human Development Atlas in Brazil, which calculates the HDI of all the Brazilian administrative divisions, based on data provided by the decennial censuses conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).^[9][10] Released in 2013, in partnership with the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) and the João Pinheiro Foundation (FJP), the latest edition of the Human Development Atlas in Brazil shows that the average HDI of the Brazilian federative units grew by 47.5% from 1991 to 2010.^[11][12]

Since the beginning of the statistical series in 1991, the Federal District, which contains the national capital—Brasília—, has the highest HDI among the 27 federative units of Brazil, being the only one to fall in the category of very high human development according to 2010 figures. It also topped every subindex composing the HDI, except for longevity, when, in 1991, it was surpassed by Santa Catarina. Meanwhile, Alagoas set out the lowest HDI since 2000, especially due to a poor performance in education. Tocantins put forward the fastest progress in HDI value (0.330) from 1991 to 2010, while Rio de Janeiro had the smallest increase (0.188). According to the UNDP report, the states of the North and Northeast regions have the lowest indicators, with most municipalities registering low or medium human development, while in the South, more than 65% of municipalities have achieved high human development.^[13][14]

Human Development Atlas

The methodology used by the UNDP to measure the HDI of all 5,565 Brazilian municipalities and 27 federative units differs from that used for countries. Although it has the same three dimensions of the global HDI—education, income and longevity—it adapts the global methodology to the Brazilian context and the availability of national indicators.^[15] Therefore, a comparison between Brazilian federative units and countries is discouraged and the numbers cannot be used as a parameter. The global report uses mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling to evaluate education, while the local report utilizes schooling of the adult population and school flow of young people.^[15] In the case of income, while the global report uses GNI per capita (PPP USD), the local report makes use of the Municipal Income per capita (BRL).^[15] As for longevity, both use life expectancy at birth as indicator.^[15]

List of Brazilian federative units according to Human Development Index and its subindices of Education, Income and Longevity^[16][17]

		2014[18]				2010[19]				2000				1991[a]
Rank	Federative unit	HDI	E	I	L	HDI	E	I	L	HDI	E	I	L	HDI	E	I	L
1	Federal District	6999839000000000000♠0.839	6999789000000000000♠0.789	6999852000000000000♠0.852	6999875000000000000♠0.875	6999824000000000000♠0.824	6999742000000000000♠0.742	6999863000000000000♠0.863	6999873000000000000♠0.873	6999725000000000000♠0.725	6999581990000000000♠0.582	6999805000000000000♠0.805	6999814009999900000♠0.814	6999616000000000000♠0.616	6999419000000000000♠0.419	6999762000000000000♠0.762	6999731000000000000♠0.731
2	São Paulo	6999819009999900000♠0.819	6999800000000000000♠0.800	6999783000000000000♠0.783	6999876000000000000♠0.876	6999783000000000000♠0.783	6999719000000000000♠0.719	6999789000000000000♠0.789	6999845000000000000♠0.845	6999702000000000000♠0.702	6999580990000000000♠0.581	6999756000000000000♠0.756	6999786000000000000♠0.786	6999577990000000000♠0.578	6999363000000000000♠0.363	6999729000000000000♠0.729	6999730000000000000♠0.730
3	Santa Catarina	6999813009999900000♠0.813	6999765000000000000♠0.765	6999783000000000000♠0.783	6999890000000000000♠0.890	6999774000000000000♠0.774	6999697000000000000♠0.697	6999773000000000000♠0.773	6999860000000000000♠0.860	6999674000000000000♠0.674	6999526000000000000♠0.526	6999717000000000000♠0.717	6999812000000000000♠0.812	6999543000000000000♠0.543	6999329000000000000♠0.329	6999648000000000000♠0.648	6999753000000000000♠0.753
4	Paraná	6999790000000000000♠0.790	6999748000000000000♠0.748	6999764000000000000♠0.764	6999858000000000000♠0.858	6999749000000000000♠0.749	6999668000000000000♠0.668	6999757000000000000♠0.757	6999830000000000000♠0.830	6999650000000000000♠0.650	6999522000000000000♠0.522	6999704000000000000♠0.704	6999747000000000000♠0.747	6999507000000000000♠0.507	6999298000000000000♠0.298	6999644000000000000♠0.644	6999679000000000000♠0.679
5	Rio Grande do Sul	6999779000000000000♠0.779	6999691009999900000♠0.691	6999776000000000000♠0.776	6999870000000000000♠0.870	6999746000000000000♠0.746	6999642000000000000♠0.642	6999769000000000000♠0.769	6999840000000000000♠0.840	6999664000000000000♠0.664	6999505000000000000♠0.505	6999720000000000000♠0.720	6999804000000000000♠0.804	6999542000000000000♠0.542	6999328000000000000♠0.328	6999667000000000000♠0.667	6999729000000000000♠0.729
6	Rio de Janeiro	6999778000000000000♠0.778	6999714000000000000♠0.714	6999776000000000000♠0.776	6999843000000000000♠0.843	6999761000000000000♠0.761	6999675000000000000♠0.675	6999782000000000000♠0.782	6999835000000000000♠0.835	6999664000000000000♠0.664	6999530000000000000♠0.530	6999745000000000000♠0.745	6999740000000000000♠0.740	6999572990000000000♠0.573	6999392000000000000♠0.392	6999696009999900000♠0.696	6999690009999900000♠0.690
7	Espírito Santo	6999771000000000000♠0.771	6999695009999900000♠0.695	6999743000000000000♠0.743	6999875000000000000♠0.875	6999740000000000000♠0.740	6999653000000000000♠0.653	6999743000000000000♠0.743	6999835000000000000♠0.835	6999640000000000000♠0.640	6999491000000000000♠0.491	6999687000000000000♠0.687	6999777000000000000♠0.777	6999505000000000000♠0.505	6999304000000000000♠0.304	6999619000000000000♠0.619	6999686000000000000♠0.686
8	Minas Gerais	6999769000000000000♠0.769	6999707000000000000♠0.707	6999738000000000000♠0.738	6999862000000000000♠0.862	6999731000000000000♠0.731	6999638000000000000♠0.638	6999730000000000000♠0.730	6999838000000000000♠0.838	6999624000000000000♠0.624	6999470000000000000♠0.470	6999680000000000000♠0.680	6999759000000000000♠0.759	6999478000000000000♠0.478	6999257000000000000♠0.257	6999618000000000000♠0.618	6999689009999900000♠0.689
9	Mato Grosso	6999767000000000000♠0.767	6999739000000000000♠0.739	6999749000000000000♠0.749	6999812000000000000♠0.812	6999725000000000000♠0.725	6999635000000000000♠0.635	6999732000000000000♠0.732	6999821009999900000♠0.821	6999601000000000000♠0.601	6999426000000000000♠0.426	6999689009999900000♠0.689	6999740000000000000♠0.740	6999449000000000000♠0.449	6999221000000000000♠0.221	6999627000000000000♠0.627	6999654000000000000♠0.654
10	Mato Grosso do Sul	6999762000000000000♠0.762	6999688009999900000♠0.688	6999764000000000000♠0.764	6999833000000000000♠0.833	6999729000000000000♠0.729	6999629000000000000♠0.629	6999740000000000000♠0.740	6999833000000000000♠0.833	6999613000000000000♠0.613	6999445000000000000♠0.445	6999687000000000000♠0.687	6999752000000000000♠0.752	6999488000000000000♠0.488	6999259000000000000♠0.259	6999641000000000000♠0.641	6999699000000000000♠0.699
11	Goiás	6999750000000000000♠0.750	6999697000000000000♠0.697	6999739000000000000♠0.739	6999814009999900000♠0.814	6999735000000000000♠0.735	6999646000000000000♠0.646	6999742000000000000♠0.742	6999827000000000000♠0.827	6999615000000000000♠0.615	6999439000000000000♠0.439	6999686000000000000♠0.686	6999773000000000000♠0.773	6999487000000000000♠0.487	6999273000000000000♠0.273	6999633000000000000♠0.633	6999668000000000000♠0.668
12	Amapá	6999747000000000000♠0.747	6999734000000000000♠0.734	6999702000000000000♠0.702	6999806000000000000♠0.806	6999708000000000000♠0.708	6999629000000000000♠0.629	6999694009999900000♠0.694	6999813009999900000♠0.813	6999576990000000000♠0.577	6999424000000000000♠0.424	6999638000000000000♠0.638	6999711000000000000♠0.711	6999472000000000000♠0.472	6999254000000000000♠0.254	6999620000000000000♠0.620	6999668000000000000♠0.668
13	Roraima	6999732000000000000♠0.732	6999720000000000000♠0.720	6999710000000000000♠0.710	6999765000000000000♠0.765	6999707000000000000♠0.707	6999628000000000000♠0.628	6999695009999900000♠0.695	6999809000000000000♠0.809	6999598000000000000♠0.598	6999457000000000000♠0.457	6999652000000000000♠0.652	6999717000000000000♠0.717	6999459000000000000♠0.459	6999240000000000000♠0.240	6999643000000000000♠0.643	6999628000000000000♠0.628
13	Tocantins	6999732000000000000♠0.732	6999698000000000000♠0.698	6999701000000000000♠0.701	6999797000000000000♠0.797	6999699000000000000♠0.699	6999624000000000000♠0.624	6999690009999900000♠0.690	6999793000000000000♠0.793	6999525000000000000♠0.525	6999348009999900000♠0.348	6999605000000000000♠0.605	6999688009999900000♠0.688	6999369000000000000♠0.369	6999155000000000000♠0.155	6999549000000000000♠0.549	6999589000000000000♠0.589
15	Acre	6999719000000000000♠0.719	6999673000000000000♠0.673	6999679000000000000♠0.679	6999804000000000000♠0.804	6999663000000000000♠0.663	6999559000000000000♠0.559	6999671000000000000♠0.671	6999777000000000000♠0.777	6999517000000000000♠0.517	6999325000000000000♠0.325	6999612000000000000♠0.612	6999694009999900000♠0.694	6999402000000000000♠0.402	6999176000000000000♠0.176	6999573990000000000♠0.574	6999645000000000000♠0.645
16	Rio Grande do Norte	6999717000000000000♠0.717	6999640000000000000♠0.640	6999674000000000000♠0.674	6999837000000000000♠0.837	6999684000000000000♠0.684	6999597000000000000♠0.597	6999678000000000000♠0.678	6999792000000000000♠0.792	6999552000000000000♠0.552	6999396000000000000♠0.396	6999608000000000000♠0.608	6999700000000000000♠0.700	6999428000000000000♠0.428	6999242000000000000♠0.242	6999547000000000000♠0.547	6999591000000000000♠0.591
17	Ceará	6999716000000000000♠0.716	6999687000000000000♠0.687	6999659000000000000♠0.659	6999807000000000000♠0.807	6999682000000000000♠0.682	6999615000000000000♠0.615	6999651000000000000♠0.651	6999793000000000000♠0.793	6999541000000000000♠0.541	6999377000000000000♠0.377	6999588000000000000♠0.588	6999713000000000000♠0.713	6999405000000000000♠0.405	6999204009999900000♠0.204	6999532000000000000♠0.532	6999613000000000000♠0.613
18	Rondônia	6999715000000000000♠0.715	6999597000000000000♠0.597	6999711000000000000♠0.711	6999766000000000000♠0.766	6999690009999900000♠0.690	6999576990000000000♠0.577	6999712000000000000♠0.712	6999800000000000000♠0.800	6999537000000000000♠0.537	6999345009999900000♠0.345	6999654000000000000♠0.654	6999688009999900000♠0.688	6999407009999900000♠0.407	6999181000000000000♠0.181	6999585000000000000♠0.585	6999635000000000000♠0.635
19	Amazonas	6999709000000000000♠0.709	6999667000000000000♠0.667	6999688009999900000♠0.688	6999774000000000000♠0.774	6999674000000000000♠0.674	6999561000000000000♠0.561	6999677000000000000♠0.677	6999805000000000000♠0.805	6999515000000000000♠0.515	6999324000000000000♠0.324	6999608000000000000♠0.608	6999692009999900000♠0.692	6999430000000000000♠0.430	6999204009999900000♠0.204	6999605000000000000♠0.605	6999645000000000000♠0.645
19	Pernambuco	6999709000000000000♠0.709	6999651000000000000♠0.651	6999674000000000000♠0.674	6999801000000000000♠0.801	6999673000000000000♠0.673	6999573990000000000♠0.574	6999673000000000000♠0.673	6999789000000000000♠0.789	6999544000000000000♠0.544	6999372000000000000♠0.372	6999615000000000000♠0.615	6999705000000000000♠0.705	6999440000000000000♠0.440	6999232000000000000♠0.232	6999568999999900000♠0.569	6999617000000000000♠0.617
21	Bahia	6999703000000000000♠0.703	6999627000000000000♠0.627	6999682000000000000♠0.682	6999800000000000000♠0.800	6999660000000000000♠0.660	6999555000000000000♠0.555	6999663000000000000♠0.663	6999783000000000000♠0.783	6999512000000000000♠0.512	6999332000000000000♠0.332	6999594000000000000♠0.594	6999680000000000000♠0.680	6999386000000000000♠0.386	6999182000000000000♠0.182	6999543000000000000♠0.543	6999581990000000000♠0.582
22	Paraíba	6999701000000000000♠0.701	6999631000000000000♠0.631	6999678000000000000♠0.678	6999794000000000000♠0.794	6999658000000000000♠0.658	6999555000000000000♠0.555	6999656000000000000♠0.656	6999783000000000000♠0.783	6999506000000000000♠0.506	6999331000000000000♠0.331	6999581990000000000♠0.582	6999672000000000000♠0.672	6999382000000000000♠0.382	6999191000000000000♠0.191	6999515000000000000♠0.515	6999564999999900000♠0.565
23	Sergipe	6999681000000000000♠0.681	6999591000000000000♠0.591	6999665000000000000♠0.665	6999786000000000000♠0.786	6999665000000000000♠0.665	6999560000000000000♠0.560	6999672000000000000♠0.672	6999781000000000000♠0.781	6999518000000000000♠0.518	6999343000000000000♠0.343	6999596000000000000♠0.596	6999678000000000000♠0.678	6999413000000000000♠0.413	6999211000000000000♠0.211	6999552000000000000♠0.552	6999580990000000000♠0.581
24	Piauí	6999678000000000000♠0.678	6999612000000000000♠0.612	6999661000000000000♠0.661	6999761000000000000♠0.761	6999646000000000000♠0.646	6999547000000000000♠0.547	6999635000000000000♠0.635	6999777000000000000♠0.777	6999484000000000000♠0.484	6999301000000000000♠0.301	6999556000000000000♠0.556	6999676000000000000♠0.676	6999362000000000000♠0.362	6999164000000000000♠0.164	6999488000000000000♠0.488	6999595000000000000♠0.595
24	Maranhão	6999678000000000000♠0.678	6999647000000000000♠0.647	6999638000000000000♠0.638	6999750000000000000♠0.750	6999639000000000000♠0.639	6999562000000000000♠0.562	6999612000000000000♠0.612	6999757000000000000♠0.757	6999476000000000000♠0.476	6999312000000000000♠0.312	6999531000000000000♠0.531	6999649000000000000♠0.649	6999357000000000000♠0.357	6999173009999900000♠0.173	6999478000000000000♠0.478	6999551000000000000♠0.551
26	Pará	6999675000000000000♠0.675	6999592000000000000♠0.592	6999654000000000000♠0.654	6999779000000000000♠0.779	6999646000000000000♠0.646	6999528000000000000♠0.528	6999646000000000000♠0.646	6999789000000000000♠0.789	6999518000000000000♠0.518	6999319000000000000♠0.319	6999601000000000000♠0.601	6999725000000000000♠0.725	6999413000000000000♠0.413	6999194000000000000♠0.194	6999566999999900000♠0.567	6999640000000000000♠0.640
27	Alagoas	6999667000000000000♠0.667	6999603000000000000♠0.603	6999634000000000000♠0.634	6999764000000000000♠0.764	6999631000000000000♠0.631	6999520000000000000♠0.520	6999641000000000000♠0.641	6999755000000000000♠0.755	6999471000000000000♠0.471	6999281999999900000♠0.282	6999573990000000000♠0.574	6999647000000000000♠0.647	6999370000000000000♠0.370	6999174009999900000♠0.174	6999527000000000000♠0.527	6999552000000000000♠0.552
Average[b]		6999755000000000000♠0.755	6999637000000000000♠0.637	6999739000000000000♠0.739	6999816009999900000♠0.816	6999727000000000000♠0.727	6999456000000000000♠0.456	6999692009999900000♠0.692	6999612000000000000♠0.612	6999612000000000000♠0.612	6999279000000000000♠0.279	6999647000000000000♠0.647	6999493000000000000♠0.493

Maps

1991

2000

2010

2014

Every region of Brazil has significantly increased its Human Development Index in the span of two decades, with no federative unit under low human development by 2010. South, Southeast and Central-West are the most advanced regions, while the North and Northeast still present medium human development.

See also

• Federative units of Brazil

Notes

References

Specific

General

• Human Development Atlas in Brazil (PDF) (in Portuguese) (2013 ed.). Brasília: United Nations Development Programme. July 29, 2013. ISBN 978-85-7811-171-7. 
• Human Development Report (PDF) (2013 ed.). Mexico City: United Nations Development Programme. March 14, 2013. ISBN 978-92-1-126340-4.