Maldives has jumped nine ranks in the Human Development Index by the United Nations Development Programme.

The Human Development Report 2020 publicized by UNDP shows that Maldives ranks 95 out of the 189 countries. Last year, the island nation was ranked in the 104th spot.

The report notes that life expectancy of Maldivians at birth has increased by 17.4 years and the country’s Gross National Income (GNI) has also increased by 132 percent, per capita.

Further, the report also indicates that Maldives has the highest in “Material Footprints” in the South Asian region, at 14.5 tonnes, higher than the average of 12.3 tonnes.

In an opinion editorial, the UNDP Resident Representative to Maldives, Akiko Fujii, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail and the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources and Agriculture, Zaha Waheed expressed that cooperation from the entire society is required to achieve human development in this era.

Highlighting that Maldives has achieved profusely over the year, the editorial notes that while Maldives has welcomed the protection of goods consumers and service recipients, it is of utmost importance to protect them from illegal business dealings.

Maldives is also included among the nine developing countries in South Asia.

The Human Development Report 2020 commemorating the 30th anniversary, is the latest in the series of the global Human Development Reports published by UNDP since 1990 as independent and analytically grounded discussions of major development issues, trends and policies.