All statistics below are gathered from Global Issues and summarizing some key details from chapter 5 of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)’ 2008 Year Book on Armaments, Disarmament and International Security for 2007.
World Military Expenditure
Global military expenditures stands at over $1.2 trillion in annual expenditure and has been rising in recent years. This corresponds to 2.5% of world gross domestic product (GDP), or $202 for each person in the world (World Vision needs only $35 to save a child). The USA is responsible for 45% of the world total.
Global Distribution of Military Expenditure in 2007
Military Expenditure Increase, 1998 - 2007
As we can see the above graph that, USA, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, UK and even India keep increasing their military expenditure.
The authors from the report noted that, “There is a large gap between what countries are prepared to allocate for military means to provide security and maintain their global and regional power status, on the one hand, and to alleviate poverty and promote economic development, on the other.”
Percent of People in the World at Different Poverty Levels, 2005
Consider these facts and figures below:
- At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.
- According to UNICEF, 25,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death.”
- Around 27 – 28% of all children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted. The two regions that account for the bulk of the deficit are South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
- Less than 1% of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.
- Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.
- Some 1.8 million school days each year from water-related illness.
- Number of children in the world is 2.2 billion, number children in poverty is 1 billion (every second child)
- 2.2 million children die each year because they are not immunized.
So, will you ask again why God not take care of the poor? Who actually responsible for all of these?
