Human Development Report 2003: Millennium Development Goals a Compact Among Nations to End Human Poverty

The Human Development Report 2003 discusses the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)--the targets set for reductions in poverty, improvements in health and education, and protection of the environment around the world by the year 2015. In September 2000, world leaders pledged to achieve the MDGs, including the overarching goal of cutting poverty in half by 2015. This report examines the progress made towards reaching these goals on a country-by-country basis. The Human Development Report 2003 also features a wide variety of national development indicators for 174 countries including demographic trends, educational levels, gender disparities, and macroeconomic indicators. It is an important tool in the formulation of government policy.