As per the 2016 Human Development Index report of the United Nations Development Programme, what was the rank of Australia among world countries?

Introduction / Context:

This question examines knowledge of the relative position of developed countries in the Human Development Index rankings. Australia consistently appears near the top of HDI lists due to strong performance in health, education, and income indicators. Knowing its approximate rank in a specific year, such as 2016, demonstrates a more detailed understanding of global development patterns rather than only knowing which country is number one.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Concept / Approach:

Australia is widely recognised as a highly developed country with excellent levels of human development. In multiple HDI reports, it appears within the top few positions, often just behind the very top ranked country such as Norway. A rank of 20 or lower would understate its development level, while a rank of 100 or 200 would be completely inconsistent with its status. For the 2016 report, Australia is listed around the second position, so we must choose the option that reflects this near top ranking.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

A cross check can be done by remembering that usually a Nordic or European country, such as Norway, holds the first position, with Australia often following closely. Many exam oriented notes explicitly mention that Australia ranked second in the 2016 HDI, reinforcing this memory. Comparing this with the options confirms that 2 is the only value that fits the description of a top ranked very high human development country like Australia.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

20: A twentieth rank would still indicate high development but would not reflect Australia's typical listing in the very top cluster of HDI rankings.

100: This rank suggests a middle position in the table, appropriate for developing nations, not for a country like Australia.

200: A rank this low would imply very poor human development and is clearly incompatible with Australia's socioeconomic status.

Common Pitfalls:

Students sometimes confuse the exact positions of several high HDI countries. They may remember that Australia is highly ranked but may guess a broader range such as within the top twenty rather than pinpointing the second place. Systematically revising a small list of key rankings for a given year helps prevent such errors. It is also useful to remember that Australia is often cited immediately after the first ranked country in summary tables.

Final Answer:

The correct answer is 2.