Summary Here we introduce the Chinese Human Development Index (CHDI) dataset for the period 2010–2020, which extends the HDI framework to a more granular spatial scale. It encompasses the CHDI values, the three underlying dimension indices (health, education, and income), and the four indicators required to construct them: life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. These indicators were compiled from population censuses, official development plans, and other authoritative statistical sources. The dataset’s fine-grained resolution and methodological rigor ensure both temporal and spatial comparability, providing a robust empirical foundation for analyzing evolving patterns, policy mechanisms, and regional divergences in China’s human development. With detailed provincial and prefectural division codes, the dataset can be merged with other data sources for comprehensive analyses. Contact Person Pu Gong (gongpu@tsinghua.edu.cn) This work was supported by the National Social Science Fund of China (24VRC043, 23&ZD130, 16ZDA009) and the Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program (2023THZWYY01).