What are the most and least developed regions in South America?

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The Human Development is a composite index by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Human Development Report Office. It is used to measure a country’s development. The score is based on life expectancy, education and per capita income indicators.

The Human Development Index is normally calculated on the national level. The Global Data Lab of the Nijmegen Radboud University has calculated the HDI at the subnational level.

South America’s HDI seems to be increasing as one moves further south, except parts of Bolivia and Paraguay. Chile and Argentina are by far the most developed countries in South America. Especially Chile, which dominates the South American subregional top 10. The metropolitan region of Santiago de Chile is the most developed area in South America with a score of 0.886.

Bolivia, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela are the least developed countries in South America. The Brokopondo and Sipaliwini region in southern Suriname is the least developed area in South America and the only area in South America to score below 0.6 (0.597).

Curious about the subregional HDI in Asia? Check out this map.