How to View the Earth as a Village of 100 People

The Earth is a big place with a lot of people - over 6.5 billion people to be more precise. Those billions of people represent many different cultures, beliefs, ideas, education and income levels, social levels, lifestyles, and more. In order to understand the make up of the Earth's population in an easier manner, it is helpful to look at demographic statistics from the perspective of the world as a village of only 100 people. This helps to simplify the interpretation of demographic data about the Earth's population.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Imagination

1. If the Earth's population was a village of only 100 people, then there would be 61 Asians, 12 Europeans, 8 from North America, 5 from South America and the Caribbean, 13 Africans, and 1 from Oceania.

2. If the Earth's population was a village of only 100 people, then there would be 50 females and 50 males. 47 people would live in an urban area. 9 are disabled. 43 live without basic sanitation. 18 live without an improved water source. Around 70 would be non-white, while 30 would be white.

3. If the Earth's population was a village of only 100 people, then 33 would be Christian, 18 would be Muslim, 14 would be Hindu, 6 would be Buddhist, 16 would be non-religious, and 13 would practice other religions.

4. If the Earth's population was a village of only 100 people, then 6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth and all 6 would be from the United States. At the same time, 13 people are hungry and malnourished. 14 can't read. Only 7 are educated at a secondary level.

5. If the Earth's population was a village of only 100 people, then only 12 people would own a computer, but only 3 would have an internet connection.

6. The village of 100 spends US$1.3 trillion on military expenses, but only US$100 billion on development aid. At the same time, 18 people in the village struggle to live on US$1 per day or less, and 53 people struggle to live on US$2 per day or less.

7. Remember that if you are able to keep your food in a refrigerator, your clothes in a closet, if you sleep on a bed, and you have a roof over your head, then you are richer than 75% of the entire village. If you have a bank account then you are among the 30 wealthiest people in the village.

Tips & Warnings

• Obviously if you are reading this article then you are among the more wealthy people in the village. Appreciate what you have and count your blessings. And do what you can to help the rest and to strive for a better world for everyone.

[SimplyCuttings]

on 11/29/2008 An absolutely wonderful article...one of the best I have read. I hope EVERYONE reads it.