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1. By about how many people does the world�s population grow each day?
With an average annual population growth rate of 1.2%, the world adds the equivalent of the entire nation of Belize to its population each day. At this rate, the world�s population will pass 6 billion by the year 2000. Find out more about population. 2. Between 1970 and 1995, did average life expectancy at birth around the world increase, decrease, or remain the same? With better nutrition and education, life expectancy has increased by 9 years�from 55 years to 64. During that same period, infant mortality rates declined from 107 to 60 per 1,000 live births. Find out more about health. 3. Between 1980 and 1995, did the total percent of students attending primary school in developing countries increase, decrease, or remain the same? While the numbers of children enrolling in primary school is constantly improving, about 130 million primary-school-age children in developing countries-60 percent of them girls�were not enrolled in schools in 1990. Find out more about education. 4. Around the world, when women do the same work as men, do they on average receive the same pay for their work? In both developing and industrial countries, gender disparities have narrowed since 1980 as more women have been attending secondary school. However, women who work outside of agriculture still earn on average about three-fourths of the wage men earn for the same work. Find out more about gender. 5. Approximately how many of the nearly 6 billion people living in the world live on less than a dollar a day? More than 1.3 billion people live on less than $1 a day. Two billion more people are only marginally better off. Find out more about poverty. 6. What percentage of industrial countries� exports are purchased by developing countries? Developing countries account for almost $1 for every $4 that industrial countries earn from their exports. Developing countries are valuable participants in the world market. Find out more about international trade. 7. What percent of urban sewage in the developing world is discharged into rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways without any treatment? Urban centers around the world, especially in developing countries, are growing at a faster pace than ever before. Often, the water and sanitation systems cannot meet the rapidly increasing needs of the population. Find out more about water & sanitation. 8. What percent of fresh water does agriculture consume in most countries? Largely due to irrigation, agriculture consumes 60�80 percent of fresh water resources in most countries. In some countries, agriculture consumes as much as 90 percent of the fresh water available. Find out more about agriculture and natural resources. 9. How much have carbon dioxide emissions increased since 1950? Burning fossil fuels and manufacturing cement are the major contributors to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, therefore an increase in CO2 emissions often accompanies certain types of industrial development and urbanization. Carbon dioxide emissions make up the largest source of greenhouse gases which lead to climate change. Find out more about climate change. 10. Of the nearly 6 billion people living on earth, how many are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution every day? Smoke, soot, dust, and air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide resulting from the burning of fossil fuels decrease the quality of air people breath. Air pollution is estimated to cause at least 500,000 premature deaths and 4�5 million new cases of chronic bronchitis each year. Find out more about pollution. |
