In our most recent visits to the Philippines and Mexico, we are reminded of the gap in the standard of living between North America and parts of the developing world. The inequality in education, health and safety is evident and that reducing poverty to improve situations of the less fortunate must be an inclusive one.
Facts and Figures from the United Nations include:
- A significant majority of households in developing countries—more than 75 per cent of the population—are living today in societies where income is more unequally distributed than it was in the 1990s
- Evidence shows that, beyond a certain threshold, inequality harms growth and poverty reduction, the quality of relations in the public and political spheres and individuals’ sense of fulfilment and self-worth
- In a global survey conducted by UN Development Programme, policy makers from around the world acknowledged that inequality in their countries is generally high and potentially a threat to long-term social and economic development
- Evidence from developing countries shows that children in the poorest 20 per cent of the populations are still up to three times more likely to die before their fifth birthday than children in the richest quintiles
- Despite overall declines in maternal mortality in the majority of developing countries, women in rural areas are still up to three times more likely to die while giving birth than women living in urban centres
To learn more about Goal #10 click on the poster Reduced Inequalities: Why it Matters.
