Quito, Ecuador — The historic progress of Latin America and the Caribbean in human development is now facing unprecedented pressures. A combination of overlapping crises, accelerated transformations, and structural vulnerabilities threatens to reverse decades of hard-won achievements. This was the message shared today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the launch of its 2025 Regional Human Development Report, titled “Under Pressure: Recalibrating the Future of Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Although the region has made important strides in past decades, these advances have been uneven, have slowed in recent years, and remain highly vulnerable to setbacks. The report highlights that since the mid-2010s, the region’s Human Development Index (HDI) has lost momentum, with more than half of the population still lacking the means to withstand adverse events without suffering long-lasting impacts on their well-being. Ecuador, however, shows a different trajectory: in the five years before the pandemic, its HDI grew by an average of 0.13% annually, compared to 0.42% today, partly thanks to a strong recovery following the pandemic-induced contraction.

“Development in Latin America and the Caribbean is under unprecedented pressure. Rising uncertainty, overlapping crises, and accelerated transformations are intertwined with structural vulnerabilities and persistent challenges of inequality and governance, putting at risk progress that has taken decades to consolidate,” said Michelle Muschett, UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “There is still time to turn that pressure into opportunity and redefine the trajectory of development in the region. The report we present today provides a roadmap and concrete tools for moving toward more resilient, sustainable human development with greater social cohesion and agency. This regional report reflects UNDP’s commitment to Latin America and the Caribbean and is a key element of a renewed technical offer for the region.”

Based on extensive regional consultations and rigorous analysis, the report proposes a new way of understanding and advancing development: the concept of resilient human development. This approach seeks to expand people’s freedoms and enable them to thrive even in the face of adversity and shocks, within a context increasingly marked by uncertainty.

To prevent and respond to threats, and recover from adverse events, the report identifies three key public policy mechanisms: instruments to navigate uncertainty; institutions that adapt to complexity; and infrastructure that enhances the transformative power of local communities.

The launch event also featured María José Pinto, Vice President of Ecuador, who stressed the urgency of recalibrating the development model in the region through policies that address today’s complexities and strengthen resilience, equity, and long-term sustainability.

Vice President Pinto stated: “UNDP reminds us that resilience is not only about resisting, but about turning pressure into opportunity. We fully share that objective: advancing social and educational resilience programmes, always putting people at the center.”

Despite ongoing challenges, the report also highlights important progress. In Ecuador, according to national data, the Human Development Index reached 0.777 in 2023, ranking the country 88th out of 193 and placing it in the “high human development” category. Since 1990, Ecuador has improved life expectancy, schooling, and income, achieving a 20.3% increase in its HDI. Yet, about one in four Ecuadorians still lives below the poverty line, underscoring the persistent challenges of reducing structural inequalities.

The report concludes with an invitation to governments, civil society, the private sector, and citizens to reimagine development through the lens of resilience.

The digital version of the report also offers interactive resources, including country-level data, animated graphics, practical policy inputs, and a Chatbot with AI-powered tools for quick consultations on the report’s content.

For more information and media inquiries, please contact:

• Sharon Grobeisen, Strategic Communications Advisor – sharon.grobeisen@undp.org

• Vanessa Hidalgo, Regional Communications Advisor – vanessa.hidalgo@undp.org

• Melina Loayza, Communications Analyst (Ecuador) – melina.loayza@undp.org

We invite you to visit https://www.latinamerica.undp.org or to follow us on social media @pnudlac

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations agency working to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. With our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.