Nepal's Human Development Index (HDI) has increased from 0.428 in 2010 to 0.458 in 2011, according to the latest report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). However, Nepal has slipped 19 steps down in the international rankings, shows this year's report. Human Development Report . This year's Human Development Report titled, Equity and Sustainability:

A Better Future for All places Nepal 157th out of 187 countries. Nepal was ranked 138th out of 169 countries in 2010, which was five slots higher than in 2005. HDI is calculated as an average of the literacy rate, life expectancy and per capita income of the respective country. An improvement in any of these indicators helps improve the HDI. The report in 2010 had listed Nepal among the 10 countries that made most significant progress in HDI because of improvement in health and education.

Development progress in the world's poorest countries could be halted or even reversed by mid-century unless bold steps are taken now to slow climate change, prevent further environmental damage, and reduce deep inequalities within and among nations, reads the report. The report says that environment can only be saved if the growing energy demand can be managed and with improvement in ecology, education, health, income, and gender equality. Norway, Australia and the Netherlands lead the world in the 2011 HDI while Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger and Burundi are at the bottom of the list. Similarly, China stands at 101 and India in 134th position. China and India were ranked 89 and 119 respectively in 2010. ï