Santo Domingo.- According to the Human Development Report (HDI) 2023/24 by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), titled “Breaking stagnation: reimagining cooperation in a polarized world,” the Dominican Republic holds a commendable position in global human development, ranking 82nd out of 193 countries.
Despite experiencing a downturn in the human development index (HDI) over two consecutive years due to the pandemic’s impact, there’s a positive sign in 2022 as it rebounds to pre-COVID-19 levels, aligning closely with figures from 2019.
However, when considering the HDI adjusted for inequality, there’s a notable loss of approximately 18%, highlighting the potential human development that could have been attained without disparities across its three dimensions.
This loss mirrors trends seen in other high human development countries and falls in line with the regional average. Since the inception of the report in 1990, the Dominican Republic has consistently progressed across various dimensions such as education, health, and income.
Despite these advancements, persistent structural inequalities continue to impede significant improvements in the quality of life for all citizens. Territorial disparities remain prominent, with some regions boasting high levels of progress while others, particularly those near the border, grapple with significant deprivations in education, health, housing, sanitation, waste management, and access to decent work.
Gender disparities further exacerbate these inequalities, hindering equal participation in labor markets, political empowerment, access to reproductive health, and combating violence against women, among other factors.
These entrenched territorial and gender inequalities perpetuate gaps in well-being and quality of life, ultimately constraining opportunities for overall human development growth. Addressing these disparities is crucial to fostering a more equitable and prosperous society for all Dominicans.