LocationsAngola remains in the medium human development category, ranking 148th among 193 countries and territories, with an HDI value above the average for Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries.
Inequality and artificial intelligence highlighted in the new Human Development Report presented by the UNDP
May 21, 2025
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) presented today in Luanda the 2025 edition of the Human Development Report, entitled “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
The report analyzes global advances in health, education, and income through the Human Development Index (HDI) and warns of an unprecedented slowdown in human progress worldwide, with growing inequalities between rich and poor countries. Excluding the critical years of the pandemic (2020–2021), HDI growth in 2024 was the weakest since 1990.
The report was presented on May 21st in Luanda.
PNUD Angola
In this context of stagnation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a potential ally to unlock new forms of progress, provided it is used ethically, focused on people, and accompanied by inclusive public policies.
Despite the risks, the report reveals a sense of optimism: six out of ten respondents believe that AI will have a positive impact on their professional lives, and two-thirds expect to use it in areas such as education, health, or work as early as next year.
The UNDP advocates a people-centred approach to AI integration, promoting:
- collaboration between humans and machines,
- The inclusion of human voices throughout the entire technology lifecycle, and
- the modernisation of education and health systems to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Angola remains in the medium human development category, ranking 148th among 193 countries and territories, with an HDI value above the average for Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries. Between 1999 and 2023, the country experienced a steady improvement in its HDI value, accompanied by a significant increase in life expectancy at birth and key education indicators.
Artificial intelligence is no longer the future—it is already here. It is reshaping economies, institutions, and everyday life. How we use it will determine the course of our continent. True development is only possible if it is shared equitably.Denise António, RR UNDP Angola
The presentation of the report was followed by a panel discussion with representatives from civil society, the media, and the private sector, who reflected on the implications of AI and inequality in the national context.
