Spatiotemporal dynamics of human well-being in key urbanized areas of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau: case of Lhasa

Well-being is a paramount parameter in the evaluation of happiness and quality of life, offering insights into dynamics of ecological barrier regions． Human development index (HDI), inequality-adjusted human development Index (IHDI), and national happiness index (NHI) are prevalent metrics in this evaluation． The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, with its ecological fragility and pivotal role in China’s poverty alleviation endeavors, would be a suitable case to assess efficacy of poverty reduction strategies and socioeconomic status． This study focuses on Lhasa, a central urban hub on the plateau, to appraise people’s well-being． HDI and human well-being indices are used to study the temporal evolution of human well-being from 2000 to 2022． IHDI index is used to dissect county-level spatial distribution of human well-being in Lhasa for the year 2020． HDI in Lhasa demonstrated a consistent upward trajectory, escalating from 59.14 in 2000 to 78.79 in 2022, with concomitant advancements in health, income, and education sub-indices． The human well-being index in Lhasa similarly exhibited a progressive increase, ascending from 15.86 in 2000 to 86.79 in 2022, with enhancements observed in indices of basic living products and services, health, and social equity and security． Spatial distribution of IHDI values in Lhasa shows concentration of higher human well-being in urban and central areas, in contrast to suburban counties where lower values are recorded． These data offer insights into outcomes of poverty alleviation and developmental trajectory in Qinghai-Xizang Plateau．