The Gender Development Index (GDI) is a composite measure that gauges the gender gap in human development achievements. It focuses on disparities between women and men in three basic dimensions of human development: health, knowledge, and standard of living. The index is calculated as the ratio of female to male achievements in the Human Development Index (HDI) dimensions. For example, a GDI value of 1 indicates perfect gender equality in human development outcomes.
Employing the GDI provides a critical perspective on national progress by highlighting inequalities that may be obscured by aggregate measures. Its utilization facilitates a more nuanced understanding of societal well-being and allows for targeted policy interventions to address specific areas of gender disparity. Historically, the development and implementation of this metric have encouraged greater scrutiny of gender-related development challenges and contributed to international efforts aimed at promoting gender equality.