Human Development index within the EAEU countries: analysis of the current situation and potential

In the context of the world transitioning to the Industry 4.0 stage and the intensive implementation of digitalization, human capital is acquiring a key role as a factor of highly efficient and innovative economic growth. The development of digital literacy is becoming an essential component of the basic skills required in modern society.The relevance of this study lies in the need to assess the level of human potential development in the EAEU countries, which is one of the key indicators of digital economy development. The aim of the article is to identify the factors influencing the dynamics of the Human Development Index (HDI) and to forecast its development both for Kazakhstan and across the EAEU. The article examines the main HDI indicators: life expectancy, education level, and quality of life of the population. To achieve this aim, an economic-statistical analysis and a factor-determined analysis using the chain substitution method were applied; the results of the study are presented in a comparative analysis. The information base consisted of statistical data from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, EEC reports, and UN Development Programme materials for the period 2018–2024. The analysis of HDI dynamics in the EAEU countries revealed that Kazakhstan shows significant progress (average HDI – 0.817), second only to Russia in terms of growth rate. The most significant factor driving Kazakhstan’s progress is the increase in gross national income (GNI) per capita in PPP terms (up to USD 36,600 in 2024). Despite these achievements, Kazakhstan ranks 174th out of 189 countries worldwide in healthcare spending (3.3% of GDP), which restrains the growth of the life expectancy index (LEI). To improve its position, Kazakhstan requires a comprehensive approach, including investments in education, healthcare, and the development of non-resource sectors of the economy.

1. Postanovlenie Pravitel’stva Respubliki Kazahstan No. 269 ot 28.03.2023 g. «Ob utverzhdenii Koncepcii cifrovoj transformacii, razvitija IKT-otrasli i kiberbezopasnosti na 2023–2029 gody». URL: https://adilet.zan. kz/ (data obrashhenija: 06.01.2024) (In Russian).

2. Borisova S. Investicii v cheloveka: na chem derzhitsja konkurentosposobnost’ Kazahstana? URL: https://qmonitor.kz (data obrashhenija: 23.02.2023) (In Russian).

3. Nagimova A.M. (2010) Kachestvo zhizni naselenija regiona: problemy izmerenija i interpretacii // Regionologija. No. 3. P. 183–189. (In Russian).

4. Gorbunova O.N., Gegamjan M.A. (2013) IChR: metodologija rascheta, pokazateli i indikatory // Social’no-jekonomicheskie javlenija i processy. Vol. 3. No. 049. P. 49. (In Russian).

5. Indeks chelovecheskogo razvitija. Vikipedija. URL: https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/ (In Russian).

6. Selezneva P.S., Kashin E.A. (2020) Mirovye podhody k ocenke chelovecheskogo potenciala // Vyzovy COVID-19 i otvety na nih: rossijskij i zarubezhnyj opyt. – M.: Finansovyj universitet pri Pravitel’stve RF, prikaz No. 2257 ot 30.11.2020. P. 36. (In Russian).

7. Sydney C.H., Godwin O. (2019) Dynamic linkage between economic growth and human development: time series evidence from Nigeria // Journal of International Development. P. 22–38. (In English).

8. Lind A. (1992) Power, Gender, and Development: Popular Women’s Organizations and the Politics of Needs in Ecuador. Boulder: Westview Press. (In English).

9. Gormely P.J. (1995) The Human Development Index in 1994: impact of income on country rank // Journal of Economic and Social Measurement. Vol. 21. P. 253–267. (In English).

10. Jangirova E.I., Iskakov M.R. (2022) Ocenka chelovecheskogo razvitija v Rossijskoj Federacii // Uroven’ zhizni naselenija regionov Rossii. V. 18. No. 2. P. 248–258. (In Russian).

11. Kibaeva A.B., Gize R. (2022) Analiz metodov ocenki chelovecheskogo kapitala v cifrovoj jekonomike Kazahstana // Vestnik universiteta «Turan». Vol. 2. No. 94. P. 265. (In Russian).

12. Sokolova T. (2022) Chelovecheskij potencial stran EAJeS: vyzovy i ugrozy v uslovijah pereformatirovanija postsovetskogo prostranstva // Obshhestvo i jekonomika. No. 12. P. 9. (In Russian).

13. Dostizhenie celej ustojchivogo razvitija v regione Evrazijskogo jekonomicheskogo sojuza 2017– 2021 gg. Moskva: Statisticheskij sbornik. 2022. P. 55. (In Russian).

14. Indeks chelovecheskogo razvitija (IChR). URL: https://nonews. co/directory/lists/countries/indexhuman) (data obrashhenija: 05.03.2023) (In Russian).

15. Uroven’ zhizni naselenija. Evrazijskaja jekonomicheskaja komissija. URL: https://eec.eaeunion.org/upload/files/dep_stat/econstat/Booklets/Booklet_Living_standards_EAEU_2024.pdf (In Russian).

16. 2024 Multidimensional Poverty Index Report. Programma razvitija OON. URL: https://hdr.undp.org/ (data obrashhenija: 02.03.2024) (In Russian).

17. Mezhgosudarstvennyj statisticheskij komitet SNG. URL: https://new.cisstat.org/armenia (data obrashhenija: 04.03.2024) (In Russian).

18. Spisok stran po ozhidaemoj prodolzhitel’nosti zhizni. URL: https://ru.wikipedia.org/ (data obrashhenija: 05.03.2024) (In Russian).

19. Nurumova G. V rejtinge stran mira po urovnju rashodov na medicinu Kazahstan zanimaet 174 mesto iz 189. URL: https://pharmnewskz (data obrashhenija: 11.05.2023) (In Russian).

20. Gorodnova N.V., Samarskaja N.A. (2019) Povyshenie kachestva zhizni naselenija v sovremennyh jekonomicheskih uslovijah Rossii // Diskussija. Vol. 94. Р. 56. (In Russian).

21. Rejting stran mira po indeksu chelovecheskogo razvitija // Human Development Report 2025. URL: http://hdr.undp.org/ (data obrashhenija: 16.05.2025) (In Russian).