How to Measure Social Development

• Social Development: positive change in society

  • reducing levels of poverty
  • creating equal status and gender equality
  • making sure everyone has basic needs
• Life Expectancy & Literacy Rate

  Two reliable indicators that are used to reach conclusions and measure progress overtime

  e.g in South Africa the percentage of the population who had no formal schooling in 1996 was 19.1 per cent, but had dropped to 8.7 per cent in 2011. This suggests that more South African children are being educated.
• Health Data

  Most common indicators are infant mortality rate and life expectancy.

  Useful indicator since increased government spending on healthcare, better access to clean water and improved sanitation
• High Life Expectancy and low IMR might indicate:

  • wealthy government prioritising health spending
  • most people have clean water piped in their houses
  • most people have access to education
• Low life expectancy and high IMR might indicate:

  • government isn't rich
  • many people live in shanty housing