Global development progress has slowed in 2024, raising fears that recent gains may be slipping, according to a new United Nations report released Tuesday.

The Human Development Index (HDI) report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) found that while the world rebounded after the COVID-19 pandemic by 2023, recovery is now losing momentum. Life expectancy and income growth have stalled, while ongoing conflicts have surged.

UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner called the slowdown "unsettling," warning it could set human development back by decades, making the world "less secure, more divided, and more vulnerable to economic and ecological shocks." He also criticized recent cuts to international aid, led by the U.S. under President Donald Trump, saying they will worsen the crisis.

The report highlighted artificial intelligence (AI) as a potential driver of progress but cautioned that its benefits are unevenly distributed. Poorer nations lag behind in AI access, and cultural biases in technology design could widen existing gaps.

"High-income countries like the U.S., South Korea, Japan, and Germany dominate AI development due to strong digital infrastructure," the report noted. In 2024, the U.S. alone attracted 70.2% of global AI investments.

"If we fail to address today’s injustices, AI will only entrench them further," Steiner warned.

Iceland and Norway topped the HDI rankings, while Germany and Sweden tied for fifth. The U.S. ranked 17th, just below Canada. India and Bangladesh shared the 130th spot, with Pakistan at 168th. The lowest-ranked nations—Chad, Central African Republic, Somalia, and South Sudan—occupied the bottom four positions (190th to 193rd).

South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa showed the least progress in health, education, and living standards.

With global challenges mounting, the UNDP urged urgent action to prevent further backsliding in human development.