A developing country can best be described as a country with a relatively low per capita income, where most people have a lower standard of living with access to fewer goods and services than most people in developed countries. In contrast, a developed nation is one with a relatively high per capita income, where most people have a higher standard of living with access to more goods and services than most people in developing countries.
If we could reduce the world’s population of approximately 7.4 billion to a village of precisely 100 people, with all existing human ratios remaining the same, the demographics would look something like this:
The village would have 60 Asians, 14 Africans, 12 Europeans, 8 Latin Americans, 5 from the USA and Canada, and 1 from the South Pacific.
- 51 would be male; 49 would be female.
- 67 would be non-Christian; 33 would be Christian.
- 80 would live in substandard housing.
- 67 would be unable to read.
- 50 would be malnourished and 1 would be dying of starvation.
- 33 would be without access to a safe water supply.
- 39 would lack access to improved sanitation.
- 24 would not have any electricity. (And of the 76 that do have electricity, most would only use it for light at night)
- 1 would have a college education.
- 1 would have HIV.
- 2 would be near birth; 1 near death.
- 5 would control 32% of the entire world’s wealth; all 5 would be US citizens.
The apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Corinthians, “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality.” 2 Corinthians 8:13-14
Prayer Points:
- To enlarge my world view and perspective.
- To be truly grateful for all of God’s blessings.
- To become awakened to the poverty and suffering around the world.
Psalm 106:47, Matthew 28:19, Psalm 113:1-6
