Global research on Human development index: bibliometric analysis and policy insights

The Human Development Index (HDI) has transformed the global development landscape since its adoption (1990). This bibliometric review aims to clarify the contributions HDI literature (1990-2023). A corpus of 3459 original publications, sourced from Web of Science, were analysed and visualised using ‘R’ and VOSviewer. The characteristics, clustering, networks, and trends within publications, publishers, authors, journals, institutions, funding agencies, collaborations, etc. were assessed. According to the results, there has been a 21-fold rise in publications (2000-2023), indicating a growing global interest in assessing human prosperity. It was greatly aided by funding organisations including NSFC (China), CAPES (Brazil), and CNPq (Brazil), which demonstrates national governments' dedication to enhancing development metrics. There is clear prevalence of contributions from the global south (such as Brazil and China). The focus on tackling challenges pertinent to low- and middle-income nations is highlighted by the involvement of global funders including the WHO, USAID, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In both Europe and South America, there were clear regional research alliances. In addition, the study offers a variety of policy perspectives that scholars and policymakers, to bridge gaps in the literature and enhance the contribution of HDI to the accomplishment of essential human development goals.