The latest World Bank Human Capital Index brings bad news for policymakers in Baku. According to the latest HCI , released in April 2026, Armenia has scored 224 out of a total of 325 in the ranking, followed by Georgia at 215 points, while Azerbaijan comes at 208 points, 16 points better than Iran's 180 points. While both Caucasus countries fare lower than the 240-point Europe and Central Asia average, they still manage to score higher than the 204-point average for upper-middle-income countries.

This outcome may appear rather unexpected. Azerbaijan has been quite generous in investing in its human capital, even in comparison to the neighboring countries. Public spending on education has been estimated at 5.06 billion manats [around USD 2.9 billion] in 2025, which is around 2.5 percent more than in the previous year and is expected to rise further through 2029. Schools, university buildings, and hospitals have been built throughout the country, including areas captured from the Armenians.

The answer........

© AzerNews