The State of Human Development in the Arab Region

25 This chapter starts with a brief discussion of the paucity of data and information on human development in the region and the challenges these gaps pose. It then summarizes the status of core human-development measures for the region compared to those for other regions of the world and over time, based primarily on the HDI. The chapter introduces three deficits that are considered to be defining features of Arab countries that impede human development. As an additional yardstick for judging the importance of some of the themes discussed in subsequent chapters, it reports on the findings of a limited survey of the opinions of young Arabs on major issues. On the basis of these various analyses, the conclusion is reached that the region is at a decisive crossroads. Some of the key challenges that the region faces are then identified.