municipalities in Honduras such as Balfate and Arizona
overall HDI score increase in all countries over the last
that display low middle development scores 26,27.
20 years. Only Belize shows a recent downward trend
in HDI scores 25.
Data Needs
HDI values have also been calculated for individual
Data needs relevant to measures of human
municipalities within Honduras, Mexico and Guatemala
development include: HDI calculated to the municipal
(Appendix 3). These data display significant variation
level for Belize and updated calculations of HDI for all
in HDI scores in coastal municipalities at national and
countries.
sub-national levels. Similar to the poverty rates, HDI
scores are higher for those municipalities with high
Further research is needed into the relationship
levels of tourism development. For example, Benito
between national and municipal HDI values and levels
Juarez (Cancun) and Cozumel in Mexico and the Bay
of environmental protection and stewardship.
Island municipalities in Honduras display human
development scores that indicate a high middle or
high level of human development compared to other
Data Source24
Note: The human development index values in this table were calculated using a consistent methodology and data series. They are
not strictly comparable with those in earlier Human Development Reports.
Country-Level HDI rankings for 2003
Mexico
Belize
Honduras
Guatemala
Human Development Index (HDI) value 2003
0.814
0.753
0.667
0.663
HDI Overall Rank (out of 177 countries)
53
91
116
117
SW
SW
7
139