How is social development measured?

The concept of development is linked to the idea of progress and civilisation. There is more to development than just money! Below are some of the most important social measures and their limitations.

Birth rate – the number of births per 1,000 people in a population in a given year. It is a crucial measure of population growth and can indicate the reproductive behaviour of a society.

Limitations
The birth rate can be misleading as a development indicator because a high birth rate does not necessarily mean underdevelopment, nor does a low birth rate signify development. Factors such as access to healthcare, cultural practices, and government policies can significantly influence birth rates. Moreover, countries at different development stages might have similar birth rates for different reasons, making it an unreliable standalone development measure.

Death rate – the number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population in a given year. It reflects the overall mortality level within a country and can be influenced by various factors, including healthcare quality, living conditions, and societal safety.

Limitations
Using the death rate as a development indicator has limitations because it can be affected by the population’s age structure. For example, a country with a large elderly population may have a high death rate, not necessarily indicating poor health care or living conditions but rather the natural ageing process. Similarly, a lower death rate might not always reflect better development status, as it could result from a younger population demographic rather than superior healthcare or living standards.

Infant mortality rate – the number of babies that die within their first year per 1000 live births.

Limitations
Not all births are recorded in poor countries. Also, the deaths of children are not always recorded.

Life expectancy – the average age people can expect to live.

Limitations
Where infant mortality is high, the life expectancy for those people who survive childhood is much higher than the mean life expectancy suggests.

People per doctor – the number of people who rely on a single doctor to meet their needs.

Limitations
In some rural areas in NEEs, people use their mobile phones to get medical advice, which is not included in official data.

Literacy Rate – % of people with basic reading and writing skills.

Limitations
Conducting surveys in war zones or informal settlements in LICs is difficult.

Access to safe water – the % of people who have access to safe drinking water without the risk of contracting waterborne diseases such as cholera.

Limitations
Water quality can change rapidly as a result of flooding. As water becomes more expensive in cities, less wealthy people may be forced to use unsafe water.

There is always a strong correlation between social development measures and economic measures like GNI per capita.