What the World Bank's Human Capital Index measures

Background

The Human Capital Index (HCI) is an annual measurement prepared by the World Bank. It quantifies the contribution of health and education to the productivity of the next generation of workers. The index measures how much economic potential countries lose through a lack of education and health. The HCI score ranges between 0 and 1, with 1 meaning a child born today can expect to reach their maximum potential. A lower score indicates a greater loss of human capital potential due to shortfalls in health and education. An expanded version, the Human Capital Index Plus (HCI+), additionally factors in the human capital a child can expect to acquire through employment, alongside health and education, if current conditions persist.