Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic increased its Human Development Index (HDI) by 32%, but structural inequalities persist that limit full enjoyment and in equal conditions for all people, said this Sunday the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
From 1990, the year UNDP began measuring the index, to 2023, the Dominican Republic, specifically, has increased its (HDI) by 32%. This performance places the country in the high human development category, with a value of 0.776, and the 89th position out of 193 countries, according to the latest global human development report.
However, this national average is nuanced by structural inequalities that limit the full and equal enjoyment of human development for all people.
The Inequality-adjusted HDI estimates how much development a country loses due to the unequal distribution of well-being. All countries in the world register losses in their human development, which is why a common aspiration is to address the roots of inequality, starting with the expansion of opportunities for all people.
The UNDP report highlights that between 2010 and 2023, the Dominican Republic achieved a rate of inequality reduction of 1.7% annually, compared to 1% in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Thus, since 2018, the country has recorded less inequality, in relation to the human development index, than in the rest of the region.
For example, add the study, in 2023, the Dominican Republic lost 18.3% of its human development index due to inequality, a figure lower than the regional average loss (20.9%).
Likewise, between 2015 and 2024, the Caribbean country experienced a trend towards the reduction of income distribution inequality, measured by the Gini index, both nationally and in urban and rural areas. The national index went from 0.445 in 2015 to 0.386 in 2024, reflecting a sustained decrease in inequality.
Yes and No
Despite these figures added and compared internationally, it is no less true that inequality continues to be a “significant” challenge for national development.
The UNDP’s territorial platform for human development in the Dominican Republic, which makes a broad comparison within the country, analyzes that, between 2010-2022, the nation has lost nearly 22% of its human development potential due to territorial inequalities in access to basic services such as health, education, and income generation.
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While at the country level, the Dominican Republic is classified with a high HDI, when compared to other countries in the world, at the territorial and regional level, the exercise shows mixed results.
Namely, high human development is concentrated exclusively in the Ozama region (National District and Santo Domingo), while other regions present medium-high, medium-low or low levels.
With the border provinces being the most lagging, and paradoxically, also Yuma (the provinces of El Seibo, La Altagracia, La Romana), one of the most touristic regions of the country, especially where the tourist hub of Punta Cana is located.
Recommendations
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UNDP recommended that the Dominican authorities promote a vision of sustainability and inclusion, beyond the figure of its gross domestic product (GDP), translating the projected economic growth into well-being for all people and in all territories, aligned with national development priorities.
Also, to continue strengthening territorial planning, focusing on reducing territorial barriers to access to social services, decent and protected work, and sustainable income sources: of the 10 planning regions, only the Metropolitan area has the high human development category, 3 regions in medium-high, 2 regions in medium-high and 4 regions in low human development.
Specifically, regarding the three dimensions of human development at the territorial level: health, education, and income, it is required to promote greater investment in preventive health and universal access, especially in rural communities and in historically excluded populations.
Furthermore, deepening the reinforcement of educational quality with a territorial and gender focus, addressing disparities in learning, school permanence, and opportunities for young people and incorporating new technologies in education and entrepreneurship; and promoting progressive fiscal policies, and universal and adaptive social protection, which redistributes income and reduces vulnerabilities.
