Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Health

Human progress retreats to 2016 levels by COVID, other crises: UN

UNDP Achim Steiner
The coronavirus pandemic has been a major driver of the HDI's decline [File; Carlo Allegri/Reuters]

Back-to-back global crises have set back human development by five years, a new report by a United Nations agency has warned.

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) said on Thursday that, for the first time since its creation in 1990, the Human Development Index (HDI) has declined for two consecutive years straight in 2020 and 2021 amid crises such as COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine – HDI being a measure of countries’ life expectancies, education levels and standards of living.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
James Bond Drank About 53 U.S. Standard Drinks a Week, and Doctors Suspected a Tremor Behind His Shaken Martinis
Doctors tallied every drink in Ian Fleming's Bond novels and found 007 averaged 92 UK units a week, about 53 U.S. drinks, with a shaky martini theory.
Medical Daily
Medical Daily
Netflix’s Narnia trailer featuring Led Zeppelin divides fans as some brand it a ‘disgrace’
‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ is directed by ‘Barbie’ filmmaker Greta Gerwig and is set to be released next year
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Washington family’s Victorian doll Michael and its eerie dinner tradition
A Victorian doll named Michael occupies a unique place in Washington, DC’s history, not simply as an antique kept in a museum but as part of a family tradition shaped by superstition, grief and spiritualism. Displayed at the Heurich House Museum , Michael was reportedly seated at the dinner table…
The Times of India
The Times of India
Christian group tries to preach to women at Texas Roadhouse; the women respond with their own kind of blessing, leading to police intervention
They certainly weren't expecting that.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
SNL stars and alum weigh in on Shane Gillis’ sexist monologue
Gillis’s comments on the late night sketch comedy show have sparked intense backlash
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Claude Lalanne’s bronze monkey armchair with ostrich leather seat sold for $1.079 million
Sotheby’s auction in December 2025 saw the sale of a remarkable gilt-bronze armchair by Claude Lalanne, which captured attention with its elaborate vines and monkey embellishments. This particular design, created in 1998, was the pioneer among Lalanne’s 'Singerie' armchairs to attract a successful sale. The high demand for Lalanne's artistry…
The Times of India
The Times of India
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play