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
There 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
Contrary 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
The 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
If it is a human right to have food,water, and shelter provided for us why do 22,000 people die of starvation each day, and why are there still cold, hungry, and thirsty people populating our streets and parks?
Number 1 cause of death in the world is hear disease.
%85 of children in the world are vaccinated.
People in fully developed countries may suffer from “food insecurity” whatever that is. They don’t starve to death for the precise reason the country produces enough food.
4.2 million children died in the world in 2016. That may seem like a lot. But, it’s nothing compared to the 14.2 million that died in the year 1950.
This only supports the fact the world is getting better at an unbelievable rate. Some things are bad yes. But, they are getting better. This article seems to be pointing at all this bad with one little good point. People are left with more hope if you give them some of the good facts and not all the bad
I had no idea that hunger is the most common cause of death in the world. My wife and I both grew up without a lot of money, and we would like to find a way to help children in third-world countries since we both know what it is like to go for a long time without food. Maybe we should consider finding a nonprofit organization to help those that need to eat.