Stacked HCI Components
Source: Own calculations based on the OECD data explorer.

Human Capital Components vs GDP per Capita

Education Attainment vs GDP
Source: Own calculations based on the OECD data explorer.
School Attendance vs GDP
Source: Own calculations based on the OECD data explorer.
Child Survival vs GDP
Source: Own calculations based on the OECD data explorer.
Life Expectancy vs GDP
Source: Own calculations based on the OECD data explorer.

Human Capital Levels and National Inequalities

HCI Change 2010-2024
Source: Own calculations based on the OECD data explorer.

Human Capital Components and Subnational Inequalities

Life Expectancy Variation
Source: Own calculations based on the OECD data explorer.
Survival Rate Variation
Source: Own calculations based on the OECD data explorer.
Education Attainment Variation
Source: Own calculations based on the OECD data explorer.
Education Attendance Variation
Source: Own calculations based on the OECD data explorer.

Evolution of Regional Gaps

HCI Gap Trends
Source: Own calculations based on the OECD data explorer.

Policy Implications

The data reveal that location matters profoundly for human capital accumulation, even within countries at similar income levels. Addressing these regional disparities requires place-based strategies that strengthen the foundations of both health and education systems. Understanding where gaps are widest—whether in child survival, life expectancy, school enrollment, or tertiary attainment—allows governments to prioritize investments with the highest social and economic returns.

Target resources toward lagging regions.

National averages often mask large internal disparities. Allocating public investment based on regional human capital diagnostics can ensure that the most disadvantaged territories—often rural, peripheral, or historically marginalized—receive focused support in health, education, and infrastructure.

Strengthen local education systems.

Policies should combine early-childhood programs, school quality improvements, and expansion of tertiary education opportunities in underserved areas. Partnerships with local universities, technical institutes, and the private sector can help align curricula with regional labor-market needs.

Enhance healthcare accessibility and quality.

In regions where life expectancy and child survival lag, investing in primary healthcare networks, mobile health services, and preventive care can reduce avoidable mortality and build a healthier, more productive workforce.

Integrate human capital into regional development planning.

Economic policies and infrastructure programs should systematically incorporate human capital metrics—for example, conditioning regional development funds on measurable progress in education and health outcomes.

Monitor and evaluate progress subnationally.

Developing standardized regional indicators and open data systems allows policymakers to track inequalities over time, identify successful interventions, and adjust strategies dynamically.

Ultimately, the relationship between human capital and economic development underscores that these investments are not only a matter of equity but of long-term growth and resilience. Regions that fail to cultivate their population's potential face rising opportunity costs, while those that close these gaps can unlock sustained and inclusive prosperity.