The Netherlands ranks 3rd in 2011 Human Development Index (HDI) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The 2011 HDI covers a record 187 countries and territories. To enable cross-country comparisons, the HDI is calculated based on data from leading international data agencies and other credible data sources.

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure of human development and measures the average achievements in a country in three basic dimensions:
› A long and healthy life, as measured by life expectancy at birth
› Knowledge, as measured by the adult literacy rate and the combined primary, secondary and tertiary gross enrolment ratio
› A decent standard of living, as measured by Gross Domestic Product per capita (Purchasing Parity Power in US dollars)

Highest-ranking countries
› Norway
› Australia
› The Netherlands
› United States
› New Zealand
› Canada
› Ireland
› Lichtenstein
› Germany
› Sweden
› Switzerland
› Japan
› Hong Kong, China (SAR)
› Iceland
› Republic of Korea

Lowest-ranking countries
› Democratic Republic of the Congo
› Niger
› Burundi
› Mozambique
› Chad
› Liberia
› Burkina Faso
› Sierra Leone
› Central African Republic
› Guinea
› Eritrea
› Guinea-Bissau
› Mali
› Ethiopia
› Zimbabwe