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SECTION A [20 Marks]
HDI Components (2023 data, UNDP HDR 2024/25)
Country Life Expected Mean years GNI per HDI
expectancy years of of schooling capita Value
(years) schooling (PPP, $) (2023)
South 64.0 13.6 10.1 13,040 0.713
Africa
Burundi 61.0 11.2 3.2 851 0.426
Source: UNDP (2024) Human Development Report 2024/25: Breaking the Gridlock –
Reimagining Cooperaton in a Polarized World (Statistical Annex, Table 1).
Figure 1: HDI Components for South Africa and Burundi (2023)
(Source: UNDP, Human Development Report 2024/25 Statistical Annex)
Indicator South Africa Burundi
Life expectancy at birth (years) 64.0 61.0
Expected years of schooling 13.6 11.2
Mean years of schooling 10.1 3.2
Gross National Income per capita (PPP, USD) 13,040 851
Human Development Index (HDI) 0.713 0.426
Interpretation and Conclusion
The Human Development Index (HDI) measures wellbeing across health, education,
and income dimensions (ECS3709 Lesson 01). It offers a broader picture than GDP
per capita alone, capturing human and social outcomes (UNDP, 2024).
South Africa:
South Africa’s HDI score of 0.713 places it in the high human development category,
reflecting better life expectancy, higher educational attainment, and significantly higher
income levels than most least developed countries. Despite internal inequality and
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health challenges (such as HIV/AIDS impact), these indicators reflect an overall
moderate-to-high standard of living.
Burundi:
Burundi’s HDI of 0.426 categorises it as a low human development country, with
limited educational attainment, low income, and lower life expectancy. The small
differences in life expectancy contrast sharply with massive income and education
disparities, highlighting the multidimensional nature of poverty.
Conclusion:
South Africa demonstrates a substantially higher standard of living than Burundi in all
HDI dimensions. The HDI reinforces that income alone (GDP per capita) understates
wellbeing differences; health and education gaps widen the development divide
(UNISA, ECS3709 Lesson 01; UNDP, 2024).
References (Harvard Style)
University of South Africa. 2025. ECS3709: Lesson 01 – Measuring Living Standards
and Economic Growth. Pretoria: UNISA.
University of South Africa. 2025. ECS3709 Study Guide. Pretoria: UNISA.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 2024. Human Development Report
2024/25: Breaking the Gridlock – Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarized World. New
York: UNDP. Available at: https://hdr.undp.org.
World Bank. 2025. World Development Indicators: GDP per capita (current US$).
Washington, D.C.: World Bank. Available at:
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD.
A2: Savings, Investment, and Economic Growth (10 marks)
Given Data (2024)
Firm ID Output (Q) Capital (K) Labour (L)
Alpha 1385 1850 1289
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THE BMZ ACADEMY
053 8213
BMZ ACADEMY 061 262 1185/068 053 8213Page 1 of 17
, THE BMZ ACADEMY
SECTION A [20 Marks]
HDI Components (2023 data, UNDP HDR 2024/25)
Country Life Expected Mean years GNI per HDI
expectancy years of of schooling capita Value
(years) schooling (PPP, $) (2023)
South 64.0 13.6 10.1 13,040 0.713
Africa
Burundi 61.0 11.2 3.2 851 0.426
Source: UNDP (2024) Human Development Report 2024/25: Breaking the Gridlock –
Reimagining Cooperaton in a Polarized World (Statistical Annex, Table 1).
Figure 1: HDI Components for South Africa and Burundi (2023)
(Source: UNDP, Human Development Report 2024/25 Statistical Annex)
Indicator South Africa Burundi
Life expectancy at birth (years) 64.0 61.0
Expected years of schooling 13.6 11.2
Mean years of schooling 10.1 3.2
Gross National Income per capita (PPP, USD) 13,040 851
Human Development Index (HDI) 0.713 0.426
Interpretation and Conclusion
The Human Development Index (HDI) measures wellbeing across health, education,
and income dimensions (ECS3709 Lesson 01). It offers a broader picture than GDP
per capita alone, capturing human and social outcomes (UNDP, 2024).
South Africa:
South Africa’s HDI score of 0.713 places it in the high human development category,
reflecting better life expectancy, higher educational attainment, and significantly higher
income levels than most least developed countries. Despite internal inequality and
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health challenges (such as HIV/AIDS impact), these indicators reflect an overall
moderate-to-high standard of living.
Burundi:
Burundi’s HDI of 0.426 categorises it as a low human development country, with
limited educational attainment, low income, and lower life expectancy. The small
differences in life expectancy contrast sharply with massive income and education
disparities, highlighting the multidimensional nature of poverty.
Conclusion:
South Africa demonstrates a substantially higher standard of living than Burundi in all
HDI dimensions. The HDI reinforces that income alone (GDP per capita) understates
wellbeing differences; health and education gaps widen the development divide
(UNISA, ECS3709 Lesson 01; UNDP, 2024).
References (Harvard Style)
University of South Africa. 2025. ECS3709: Lesson 01 – Measuring Living Standards
and Economic Growth. Pretoria: UNISA.
University of South Africa. 2025. ECS3709 Study Guide. Pretoria: UNISA.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 2024. Human Development Report
2024/25: Breaking the Gridlock – Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarized World. New
York: UNDP. Available at: https://hdr.undp.org.
World Bank. 2025. World Development Indicators: GDP per capita (current US$).
Washington, D.C.: World Bank. Available at:
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD.
A2: Savings, Investment, and Economic Growth (10 marks)
Given Data (2024)
Firm ID Output (Q) Capital (K) Labour (L)
Alpha 1385 1850 1289
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