Ivory Coast leads in human development progress in Sub-Saharan Africa
Ivory Coast Leads Human Development Progress in Sub-Saharan Africa
With a record increase of its Human Development Index (HDI) by +0.017 between 2022 and 2023, Ivory Coast ranks first among sub-Saharan African countries and fourth globally in terms of annual growth. This momentum reflects the tangible impact of public policies implemented over the past decade and opens new perspectives in the era of artificial intelligence, seen as a strategic lever to accelerate human development. Ivory Coast shines brightly on the global human development stage.
According to the 2025 Human Development Report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the country has recorded a remarkable increase in its Human Development Index (HDI) between 2022 and 2023, with a rise of +0.017, representing a growth of 3%. This performance places Ivory Coast at the top in sub-Saharan Africa and fourth globally in terms of annual evolution. With an HDI value of 0.582, the country is now classified in the medium category, ranking 157th out of 193 countries, a gain of five places in one year.
This significant advancement was presented on May 16, 2025, at the auditorium of the Prime Minister's office in Abidjan-Plateau by Mr. Becaye Diarra, Chief Economist at UNDP, during the launch of the report titled "A Matter of Choice: People and Opportunities in the Age of AI." The event brought together several government members, including the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development, Ms. Nialé Kaba, as well as the UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Blerta Cela.
The historical analysis of the country's HDI evolution demonstrates a constant positive trend: +0.7% between 1990 and 2000, +1.0% between 2000 and 2009, and then an acceleration to +1.7% between 2010 and 2023, representing a cumulative increase of 25.16% during this last period. These results reflect the structural effects of public policies implemented over more than a decade.
The improvement of the fundamental components of the HDI is tangible evidence of this progress. Life expectancy at birth has increased from 61.6 years in 2022 to 61.9 years in 2023. Expected years of schooling have risen from 10.2 to 11.4 years, while the average years of schooling for adults over 25 remains stable at 4.9 years. Finally, gross national income per capita has seen a notable increase, reaching $6,735 in 2023 compared to $6,540 the previous year.
In the era of artificial intelligence, the UNDP report highlights the opportunities this technology offers to accelerate human development, provided that human beings are placed at the heart of innovation. According to Mr. Becaye Diarra, AI can propel Ivory Coast towards a high HDI if the country manages to build a complementary economy between humans and technologies, stimulate ethical innovation, and strengthen human capacities, particularly through education and health.
Minister Nialé Kaba praised these advancements, the result of economic, social, and institutional reforms implemented since 2011. She announced that the country is already applying the recommendations of the 2025 Report through the development of national strategies on AI, data governance, and the establishment of a pan-African artificial intelligence hub in Abidjan, aimed at supporting sustainable development goals.
Source: Government Portal of Ivory Coast, Web Editorial Team MEPD
