Human Development & Quality of Life in Benin
HDI 0.515 · UNDP rank 173 · latest published data
For 2023, Benin records HDI 0.515 and UNDP rank 173; that headline belongs to the low human development category. The headline needs context: The GDI of 0.866 (group 5) shows a pronounced female-male development gap within the UNDP framework. Another part of the dashboard shows that the planetary-pressure adjustment is limited at 2.1%, leaving PHDI at 0.504.
What sits inside Benin's HDI
The 2023 HDI profile for Benin rests on life expectancy of 60.8, schooling measures of 10.4 expected years and 3.2 mean years, plus GNI per capita of $3,806 in 2021 PPP dollars. The page keeps those components visible so the composite index is not read in isolation.
Inequality changes the headline
In Benin's profile, IHDI shows the effect of inequality on health, education and income achievements, the page keeps this distribution measure distinct from broader quality-of-life evidence.
Gender and planetary-pressure adjustments
On this page, Benin has additional UNDP measures of GDI 0.866, GII 0.573, PHDI 0.504. They are related indicators, but they should not be combined into one country score.
Quality-of-life coverage is conditional
A comparable life-satisfaction observation was not available in the OECD extract used for Benin. Missing source coverage is shown as a limitation, not filled with an estimate.
What Benin's numbers say together
For a fuller view of Benin, the page shows IHDI 0.316 with a 38.6% loss; PHDI 0.504 after a 2.1% adjustment; GDI 0.866. These measures answer different questions, so they are kept separate.
At 0.515, Benin's 2023 HDI corresponds to UNDP rank 173. The ranking reflects the HDI framework only and does not capture every aspect of lived experience.
The IHDI is 0.316, and UNDP reports an overall loss of 38.6% relative to the headline index.
The GDI value is 0.866 in group 5; it should be read alongside, not merged into, HDI.
The PHDI is 0.504, with a 2.1% adjustment from the HDI value in UNDP's 2023 table.
Frequently asked questions
What is Benin's HDI?
For the 2023 observation year, UNDP reports HDI 0.515 and rank 173 for Benin.
How does inequality affect Benin's HDI?
Benin's Inequality-adjusted HDI is 0.316. The published overall loss is 38.6% relative to HDI.
Why is there no life satisfaction score on this page?
For Benin, subjective well-being is shown only with a verified comparable observation. No proxy is inserted for a value the source does not report.
Is HDI the same as quality of life?
No. HDI combines health, education and income. A subjective well-being observation is contextual information here, not an HDI component.
Sources & methodology
Sources for the development indicators and definitions shown above.
View sources used for this page
Primary source for 2023 HDI and its components, plus IHDI, GDI, GII and PHDI where reported.
Report edition underlying the 2023 human-development indices and ranking.
Data note: Reference years are shown with each indicator; unavailable observations remain unfilled.