This research, with the aim of investigating the applied indicators of social
development, has studied the concept of social development at international and
national levels. Considering research purposes and questions, the research method is
descriptive and qualitative which has been carried out in two stages of library and
Delphi technique. The research sample size (Delphi method) consists of 30
academic experts and executive authorities in social development area, who have
been selected randomly. Finally, according to calculation of social indicators,
significance and priority in process of Delphi technique, the concept of social
development was defined and interpreted as the quality of social system through
institutionalization of development ethics, especially “ethics of social development”
in order to achieve “social solidarity (consensus)” and “social equality” for
promoting “life quality level” and enhancing the coefficient of “social security”. In
the end, social development was divided, based on scientific logic of indicatormaking,
into five-fold dimensions as well as sub-dimensions associated with it.