The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has released its 2024 Human Development Index (HDI), providing a comprehensive snapshot of the well-being of nations across the globe. In Africa, Seychelles stands out as the only country in the "very high" human development category, while Somalia has the lowest HDI, not just in Africa but globally.

The HDI is a measure that combines three key aspects of human development: health, education, and standard of living. It is used to rank nations as developed, developing, or underdeveloped and to assess how economic policies affect people's quality of life. Countries fall into four HDI categories: very high, high, medium, and low human development.

In Africa, Seychelles' HDI score of 0.802 places it 67th globally, with a life expectancy of 71.7 years, 13.9 expected years of schooling, and a GNI per capita of $28,386. Mauritius follows closely, with an HDI score of 0.796, ranking 72nd globally. Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, South Africa, Botswana, Morocco, and Gabon complete the top 10 list of most developed African countries in 2024.

The HDI report highlights the significant challenges faced by the African continent in ensuring progress that truly uplifts its people. Global progress in human development has taken a hit, with violent conflicts on the rise and the climate crisis threatening to lock in permanent setbacks. The report notes that 2023 was officially the hottest year on record, capping off a decade of rising temperatures.

The HDI report serves as a reminder that a nation's success is not solely defined by its wealth or infrastructure, but by the well-being of its people. As the first Human Development Report declared in 1990, "People are the real wealth of a nation." Decades later, that truth remains unchanged, and the HDI report provides a crucial tool for assessing and improving human development across the globe.

The full list of the top 10 most developed African countries in 2024 is as follows:

Rank Country HDI Score Global Rank Life Expectancy Expected Years of Schooling GNI per Capita

1 Seychelles 0.802 67th 71.7 years 13.9 $28,386

2 Mauritius 0.796 72nd 74.0 years 14.6 $23,252

3 Libya 0.746 92nd 72.2 years 14.0 $19,752

4 Algeria 0.745 93rd 77.1 years 15.5 $10,978

5 Tunisia 0.732 101st 74.3 years 14.6 $10,297

6 Egypt 0.728 105th 70.2 years 12.9 $12,361

7 South Africa 0.717 110th 61.5 years 14.3 $13,186

8 Botswana 0.708 114th 65.9 years 11.4 $14,842

9 Morocco 0.698 120th 75.0 years 14.6 $7,955

10 Gabon 0.693 123rd 65.7 years 12.4 $11,194

The HDI report serves as a crucial tool for policymakers, businesses, and individuals to assess and improve human development across the globe. As the world continues to face significant challenges, the HDI report provides a vital framework for understanding and addressing the complexities of human development.