What are Global indices Global indices are composite indicators developed by international organizations to assess and compare the performance of countries across various dimensions such as governance, economy, innovation, environment, education, health, and digital development. These indices provide a standardized framework for benchmarking national performance, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and guiding policy reforms. They are typically based on a combination of quantitative data (e.g., statistics, infrastructure metrics) and qualitative assessments (e.g., expert opinions, surveys). Governments, researchers, investors, and development organizations use these indices to evaluate progress, attract investment, and align national strategies with international best practices. Evolution of Global Indices In the 20th century, researchers and experts began developing alternative methods to assess and monitor development instead of GDP, leading to the creation of various indices. One of the earliest examples was the Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI), introduced by Morris David Morris in the mid-1970s. This index aimed to measure a country's overall well-being using a weighted average of three indicators: literacy rate, infant mortality rate, and life expectancy. Building on such efforts, the Human Development Index (HDI) emerged as a more comprehensive measure. First published in 1990 in the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report (HDR), the HDI evaluates development based on three key dimensions: life expectancy, education (including literacy and enrolment rates), and per capita income adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP). These components are normalized before being aggregated into a single index. In 2000, the global development agenda was further shaped by the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the United Nations. This framework consisted of eight internationally agreed goals aimed at combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, and environmental degradation, with a target deadline of 2015. In response, researchers began integrating MDG progress into existing indices, including adjusted versions of the HDI. Following the MDG era, the focus shifted to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted in 2015 with the aim of achieving comprehensive global development by 2030. Each SDG goal is focussed to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Such as Goal 16 is about promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. The global indicator framework adopted by the General Assembly on Work of the Statistical Commission includes 234 unique indicators. The total number of indicators listed in the global indicator framework of SDG indicators is 251, however, 13 indicators fall under two or more SDG goals. Since then, development indices have been increasingly aligned with the SDGs to better reflect sustainability and inclusive growth. Related resources Sustainable Development Goals Mashup Indices of Development - World Bank report Millennium Development Goals Human Development Index - UNDP SDG Indicators