Poverty's retreat.

• Position: GRAPHS

Today, about 700 million people--almost 10 percent of the global population--live on less than $1.90 a day, the current threshold for extreme poverty as defined by the World Bank and the United Nations. The good news, as shown on the graph at right, is that the percentage of people living In extreme poverty has declined significantly In recent decades, largely because of growing economies and improvements in technology and medicine. The U.N. hopes to eliminate extreme poverty altogether by the year 2030.

ANALYZE THE GRAPHS

1. In which of the following years was nearly one third of the population living on less than $1.90 a day?

   a 1981

   b 1984

   c 1996

   d 2008

2. About what percentage of the population in 2005 was living on less than $1.90 a day?

   a 19%

   b 22%

   c 27%

   d 29%

3. During which of these three-year periods did extreme poverty decline by the most percentage points?

   a 1987-90

   b 1990-93

   c 1996-99

   d 2008-11

4. The global population in 1981 was about 4.5 billion. About--people were living on less than $1.90 a day.

   a 540 million

   b 1.2 billion

   c 1.5 billion

   d 2 billion

5. In sub-Saharan Africa, 35% of people now live on less than $1.90 a day. You can infer from the graph that--.

   a other regions must have lower rates

   b Asia's rate is about the same

   c this rate is rising

   d none of the above

   DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

6. The international poverty line is calculated based on the cost of obtaining basic food, clothing, and shelter in the world's poorest countries. How do you think this compares with the poverty line used in the U.S.? Explain.

7. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim has...