World hunger and poverty are serious problems around the globe. It has been estimated that the world population is going to grow to be 9 billion by 2050. To support the growing population, we’ll have to increase our food production by 70% or so. Did you know that one in every six Americans is suffering from food insecurity? In this blog, you’ll find some facts about hunger and poverty around the world that might seem shocking. This blog is intended to spread awareness about hunger around the world so that we can take actions to minimize world hunger, increase production, reduce wastage, and conserve our world’s natural resources.

10 Facts about poverty and hunger

2606311169_fcda7f6cbfThere is a large number of people around the world who are suffering from malnutrition. Either they don‘t have enough to eat, or their meals don’t contain all the essential nutrients that they should, as malnutrition can also refer to improper nourishment. Below are 10 facts about world hunger and poverty.

1. Hunger is the number one cause of death in the world

Between 2010 and 2012 an estimated 868 million people were undernourished and more than 100 million children under age five were undernourished and underweight (United Nations Millennium Development Goals). According to the United Nations World Food Programme, one in every eight people in the world does not get sufficient food to live an active life and to be healthy. Hunger is the number one cause of death killing more than HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined (DoSomething.org).

2. 22,000 children die each day due to poverty.

According to UNICEF, 22,000 children die each day due to poverty.Many of these children live in single parent households, as many parents die from treatable diseases. Many parents also leave their children behind with one parent, in pursuit of better opportunities in less poverty stricken areas. In 2011, 165 million children under the age 5 suffered from malnutrition which stunted their growth.

3. About one in every six Americans suffer from food insecurity

About 1 in every six Americans and about one billion people around the world are suffering from food insecurity. Hunger in the United States is also associated with poverty, although the country produces more than enough food to feed everyone.

4. More than three billion people around the world are poor

More than three billion people around the world live on less than $ 2.50 a day. There are about 1.3 billion people around the world who live in extreme poverty, making less than $1.25 a day.

5. The population of the globe will rise to 9 billion

The global population is expected to increase to 9 billion people by 2050, which will require a 70% increase in agricultural production.

6. About 75% of the world’s poor live in rural areas

india-309_1280Contrary to popular belief, about 75% of the world’s poor people live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihood (Bread for the World). Rural areas in the third world countries are quite different. They do not have any of the modern facilities, such as power, running water, or any income to buy grocery from any nearby stores, and so, they have no choice but to grow their own food, with whatever tools they have, and often they are left to the mercy of Mother nature.

7. More than a billion people around the world suffer from water shortages

We don’t pay much attention to clean water in our daily lives, because we always have clean running water in our homes. However, more than a billion people around the world do not have access to clean drinking water. There are many water caused disease around the world that make people, especially children, sick every day. Roughly 443 million school days are missed every year because of illness caused by unclean water.

8. Two million children die each year from preventable diseases

About 2 million children die each year from diseases that could easily be cured. There are people who are too poor to afford proper treatment, and die from preventable food and water related diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhea.

9. One hundred and fifty countries have benefited directly from the U.S. food aid

Since the federal government’s largest food-aid program, Food for Peace which began in 1954, more than 3 billion people in 150 countries have benefited directly from U.S. food aid. (U.S. Food Aid and Security Coalition, “The History of Food Aid.”)

10. Almost all hungry people live in developing countries

laos-61895_1280The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that nearly 870 million people of the 7.1 billion people in the world, or one in eight, were suffering from chronic undernourishment in 2010-2012. Almost all hungry people, 852 million, live in developing countries, representing 15% percent of the population of developing counties. There are 16 million people undernourished in developed countries (FAO 2012).

If you don’t have to worry about where your next meal is going to come from, you are one of the fortunate ones, and you should think about what you should do to help the ones among us who suffer from food insecurity. Millions of people around the globe do not have enough food or clean water necessary to support their daily lives. The demand for food around the world is going to be even greater as the world population increases, so try growing as much food as possible, yourself. Also reduce food wastage, because when you save food, you save energy, water and other resources that were used to grow that food, and also, you save the planet from carbon emission. The less you waste, the less there will be pressure on farming and natural resources.

P. S: Please put your comment in the comment box below, and don’t forget to share.

Source: Nourish the Planet

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