A glimpse at world Poverty Stats

As the world’s wealthy countries and individuals amass billions of dollars, it is imperative to take a closer look at global poverty stats in order to see the widening gap between the rich and the poor.

• Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.
• At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.
• More than 80 percent of the world’s population lives in countries where income differentials are widening. The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income.
• According to UNICEF, 25,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world.
• Infectious diseases continue to blight the lives of the poor across the world. An estimated 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, with 3 million deaths in 2004. Every year there are 350–500 million cases of malaria, with 1 million fatalities: Africa accounts for 90 percent of malarial deaths and African children account for over 80 percent of malaria victims worldwide.
• Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.
• Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water survive on less than $2,50 a day, with one in three living on less than $1,25 a day.
• More than 660 million people without sanitation live on less than $2,50 a day, and more than 385 million on less than $1,25 a day.
• 1.8 billion people who have access to a water source within 1 kilometer, but not in their house or yard, consume around 20 litres per day
• About 1.8 million child deaths each year as a result of diarrhea
• Close to half of all people in developing countries suffering at any given time from a health problem caused by water and sanitation deficits.