The various indicators of human development include the Human Development Index (HDI) value and rank, which provide a broad overview. Other vital indicators are Life Expectancy at Birth, Mean years of Schooling, and Gross National Income per Capita. Health and standard of living indicators are also prominent, such as the percentage of people living Below Poverty Line, Infant Mortality Rate, and Maternal Mortality Rate. Furthermore, access to basic services like sanitation and drinking water, as well as the prevalence of undernourishment, serve as key measures.

However, standard indicators are often considered insufficient without liberty indicators. These include measures of the extent of democratic participation in social and political decision-making. Other examples are the extent of Constitutional protection given to rights of citizens and the protection of the Independence of the Judiciary and the Rule of Law. Including these provides a more complete picture of human development.