Physical Quality of Life Index

The Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI) is a metric used to measure social and economic development. It is composed of three sub-indexes: infant mortality, literacy rate, and life expectancy. While all three are important in a comprehensive analysis of living standards, the PQLI specifically focuses on conditions related to physical well-being. A nation with a higher PQLI score is more likely to have better public health infrastructure, higher life expectancy, and better educational resources. The index was first introduced by the World Bank in 1979 and has since been used to compare poverty and development levels across countries.