Poverty Quiz

THE NORTH/SOUTH DIVIDE

  • Divided into two significant parts:

  • Northern/Economically Developed World:

    • Includes North America, Western & Northern Europe, Australia, Northern Asia.
    • Represents 25% of world population (approx. 2.01 billion) but consumes 75% of global wealth/resources.
    • Characterized by high standards of living.

  • Southern/Economically Developing World:

    • Often referred to as "third world" countries.
    • Encompasses about 75% of the world's population (approx. 6.03 billion) yet consumes only 25% of global resources.
    • Contains a mix of very poor countries (e.g., Somalia, Bangladesh) and less poor nations (e.g., Peru, Bolivia).

IMPORTANT CONCEPTS

  • Relative Poverty:

  • Individuals are considered poor relative to the wealth of those around them within the same country.

  • Absolute Poverty:

  • Individuals lack basic necessities for life. Approximately 734 million people live in absolute poverty; around 154 million are homeless.

FACTORS DETERMINING ABSOLUTE POVERTY

  1. High Level of Malnutrition:
  • Up to 75% of individuals in poor countries depend on agriculture for their livelihood.
  • UN reports 690 million people face starvation daily.
  1. Low Level of Education:
  • Direct correlation between poverty and literacy levels; about 775 million people are illiterate.
  • Insufficient education contributes to ongoing poverty.
  1. High Level of Illness and Disease:
  • 790 million lack access to clean drinking water.
  • 1.8 billion lack proper sanitation; 900 million practice open defecation.
  • A child in a developing nation contracts illness approximately every three weeks.
  1. High Rate of Infant Mortality:
  • Children in their early years are particularly vulnerable.
  • Over 3 million children under 5 die yearly from malnutrition; malnourished mothers cannot produce adequate milk.
  1. Low Life Expectancy:
  • In developed nations (e.g., Canada), average life expectancy: 80 (men) and 84 (women).
  • In Sierra Leone, averages drop significantly to 58 (men) and 61 (women).

FACTS ABOUT HUNGER & POVERTY

  • Global Context (2023):

  • Total world population: 8.04 billion.

  • 821 million people are chronically undernourished, an increase since 2014 despite a decrease from 2000.

  • Undernourishment Distribution:

  • 98% of the undernourished population resides in developing countries.

  • Affected regions: Asia (515.1 million), Sub-Saharan Africa (236.5 million), Latin America (32.3 million).

  • Demographics of Hunger:

  • 60% of the hungry population comprises women.

  • One in five births occurs without skilled assistance, leading to 303,000 maternal deaths and 2.7 million newborn deaths in 2015 due to inadequate care during pregnancy and delivery.

  • Child Health Statistics:

  • 1 out of 6 infants is born with low birth weight; nearly half of childhood deaths under 5 are linked to undernutrition (approx. 3 million lives lost annually).

  • 151 million children under 5 suffer from stunting, with significant numbers in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

  • HIV/AIDS Impact:

  • 36.7 million living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, with a majority (51%) being women.

  • In sub-Saharan Africa, 25.5 million individuals are affected; new HIV infections among children have decreased from 300,000 in 2010 to 160,000 in 2016.

  • Extreme Poverty Statistics:

  • 767 million people live on less than $1.90/day (1 in 10 people); 389 million of the extremely poor reside in Sub-Saharan Africa.

  • 328 million children live in extreme poverty.

  • Agricultural Context:

  • 75% of the poorest individuals in rural areas rely on agriculture; 50% of hungry individuals come from farming families.

  • Water and Sanitation Issues:

  • 2.1 billion lack access to safe water; 4.5 billion lack managed sanitation.

  • Waterborne diseases cause annual deaths of 361,000 children under 5; poor sanitation facilitates the spread of diseases like cholera and dysentery.