The Human Development Index (HDI) shows the uneven distribution of goods or wealth around the world. The HDI is a number based on a composite of life expectancy, gross domestic product, educational achievement, and adult literacy of individuals within a country. Countries with low HDI are developing countries and are considered poor, third world countries. On the other hand, the United States has a high HDI and is considered a developed country.
Many developed countries with high HDI are located in North America (Canada and United States), Australia and Europe. These countries tend to be the economic centers of the world. The countries surrounding them typically have a HDI that is just slightly lower than the developed country (Mexico and Russia). The developing countries with low HDI are highly concentrated in Africa.
Africa has been faced with many challenges throughout recent history; warfare, AIDS, and poor hygiene knowledge. Several countries in Africa have been in or are still in civil wars. This has caused a decrease in population and has also shifted the focus away from education and prosperity to basic survival. Most of the population does not have the knowledge or skills for good hygiene. They struggle with prevalent parasites and fatal diseases. Additionally, the AIDS epidemic is highly concentrated in Africa and has taken the lives of millions of people. All of these factors have lowered the HDI of many Sub-Saharan countries and has made it a place of great need.
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