The PQLI is a composite index designed to measure the quality of life or well-being of a country’s population, serving as an alternative to purely economic indicators like GDP.
The Three Indicators
| Indicator | Description |
|---|---|
| Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) | Deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births. |
| Life Expectancy at Age One | Average years a person is expected to live after reaching age 1. |
| Basic Literacy Rate | Percentage of the population aged 15+ who can read and write. |
Key Insights:
- Calculation: Each indicator is scaled from 0 (worst) to 100 (best). The final PQLI score is the arithmetic mean of these three scaled scores.
- Limitations: It ignores economic growth, employment, and political freedoms. It has largely been replaced in modern development studies by the Human Development Index (HDI).
- Clinical Note: If you encounter “PQLI” in a hospice or oncology setting, it likely refers to the Palliative Care Quality of Life Instrument, which assesses the multidimensional quality of life for terminal patients.