Did you know???.... The richest countries represent only 15% of the world’s population 3 BILLION people live in poverty

Developing vs. Developed Countries

What has led to inequalities of wealth? High demographic growth of poorer countries Decolonization Globalization of the economy Less developed countries usually do not take part in decisions involving the global economy

Important Terms Demographic Growth - Increase in the size of a population under the effect of there being more births than deaths and more migrants entering than leaving. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) – measures the total production of a country. GDP per capita (GDP per person) is used to determine a country’s standard of living. MEDC = More Economically Developed Countries (aka “Developed Countries”) LEDC = Less Economically Developed Countries (aka “Developing Countries”)

HDI HDI (Human Development Index) – an index created by the UN that measures a country’s level of human development. Based on: GDP per inhabitant Life expectancy Literacy rate Attendance in primary, secondary, & higher education 0.0 – 0.5 = low, 0.5 – 0.8 = medium, 0.8 – 1.0 = high There is a strong correlation between a high HDI score and a prosperous economy!

HDI of the world in 2011 Dark blue = High Light Blue = Low Medium Blue =  Medium Gray = Data unavailable  

Millennium Development Goals for 2015

What are the MDGs??? They are a set of goals agreed upon by heads of states that focus on fighting and reducing the complex effects of global poverty by 2015. They are NOT specific to the UN, but were formed as part of the “Millennium Declaration” of the UN Millennium Summit in NYC in 2000. They were officially launched in 2002 at the UN’s conference in Monterrey, Mexico.

Why are the MDGs so important? They are the FIRST global framework with an explicit, mutual partnership between developed and developing countries. Not one single person, organization, or country is responsible for carrying out these goals. EVERYONE is!

The Eight MDGs Eradicate extreme poverty & hunger Achieve universal primary education Promote gender equality & empower women Reduce child mortality Improve maternal health Combat HIV/AIDs, malaria, & other diseases Ensure environmental sustainability Forge global partnerships to achieve development goals