Human Development and Diversity Terminology

Human Development and Diversity: Terminology

• Human Development Index (HDI): A composite measure of a country's average achievements in health (life expectancy), education (mean and expected years of schooling), and standard of living (GNI per capita).
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The total value of goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period (usually annually).
• Gross National Income (GNI): The total income earned by a country's residents and businesses, including income earned abroad, minus income earned by foreigners domestically.
• Poverty line: The minimum income needed in a country to meet basic needs (food, shelter, clothing).
• Development indicators: Quantitative or qualitative measures assessing a country or region's development level—economic, social, environmental factors.
• Life expectancy: The average lifespan of a person, usually calculated at birth, based on current mortality rates.
• Literacy rate: The percentage of a population aged 15 and above who can read and write with understanding.
• Infant mortality rate: The number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births in a year.
• Access to clean water: The percentage of the population with access to safe, clean drinking water.
• Access to sanitation: The percentage of the population with access to facilities and services for safe waste disposal.
• Gender Inequality Index (GII): Measures gender inequality in reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation.
• Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI): A modification of the HDI that accounts for inequalities in health, education, and income within a country.
• Primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors: Classify economic activities based on the types of goods and services produced; primary (agriculture, mining), secondary (manufacturing), and tertiary (services).
• Urbanization: The process of an increasing proportion of a population living in urban areas; growth of cities.
• Rural-urban migration: The movement of people from rural to urban areas for employment, education, or better living.
• Informal economy: Economic activities not regulated by the government and not included in official GDP or employment measures.
• Formal economy: Economic activities regulated by the government and included in official GDP and employment measures.

Sustainable Development and Related Concepts

• Sustainable development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Seventeen global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to address social, economic, and environmental challenges by 2030.
• Human trafficking: The illegal trade of humans for forced labor, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation.
• Gender empowerment: The process of empowering women and girls to fully participate in economic, social, and political life.
• Income inequality: Unequal distribution of income among individuals or households.
• Food security: Access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for all.
• Globalization: Increasing interconnectedness and interdependence among countries.
• Cultural diversity: The existence of various cultural groups within a society.
• Ethnicity: A social category based on shared cultural heritage, ancestry, language, or religion.
• Multiculturalism: Coexistence of diverse cultural groups within a society.
• Indigenous peoples: Native inhabitants of a region, with distinct cultural ties to that land.
• Human rights: Fundamental rights and freedoms inherent to all humans.
• Nationalism: An ideology emphasizing a nation's interests, unity, and sovereignty.
• Civil society: Organizations and activities outside of government and the market.