1

Very High(4): 1-47High(3):48-94Medium(2):95-141Low(1):142-187

World Statistics

World Averages:HDI: .682Literacy: 88/79%GDP: 12,000Life: 68/72

Chad

• War in Sudan • Janjawiid killed thousands• Humanitarian crisis, with refugees fleeing into Chad

Mexico

• Population of over 100 million• Vibrant traditional culture• “Americanization,” including “big box” stores in the

cities

United States

• Global trendsetter• “Junk food”• Many Americans trying to watch their diet

8

Bhutan

• Small, mountainous country• Traditional agricultural lifestyle• Social, medical, and environmental difficulties

9

10

Mexico

• World’s largest Spanish-speaking country• Rapid industrialization• Emerging middle class• Increasing urbanization

11

Ecuador

• Small, mountainous country• High altitude means difficult growing conditions

14

Thailand

• Never colonized• Relatively stable government and growing economy• Buddhist culture

15

16

Mongolia

• Sparsely populated• Formerly communist, now democratic• One-third of people are nomadic or semi-nomadic; one-

third live in the capital city

17

18

Japan

• Major changes in the past century• Most people live in urban areas on the coasts• Similarities and differences between Japanese and

American families

19

Japan

• Island country• Relatively homogeneous

HDI: .901(12)Lit. 99%Life 83 GDP: 35,200

22

Cuba

• Island country in the Caribbean• Major sugar producer in the 19th century; African slaves• Fidel Castro

23

24

Kuwait

• Small country along the Persian Gulf• Vast petroleum resources• Economy flourished in the 20th century• Severely damaged by 1990 Iraq invasion

25

26

South Africa

• Mineral wealth• Apartheid• Soweto

27

28

Mali

• Vast mineral resources and cultural wealth• A very poor country• At one time, a very wealthy kingdom• Former French colony

29

30

Iceland

• A highly developed country• Natural energy resources

31

32

Samoa

• Formerly called Western Samoa• Traditional culture with some modernization• Christianity

HDI: .688(99)Lit. 99%Life 73GDP: 6,000

33

Mali

• No fast-food chains or supermarkets• Almost no modern conveniences• Women and children do the housework and cooking

Kuwait

• High standard of living• Immigrant laborers

Germany

• High standard of living• Two separate countries until 1990• Economic disparities persist between the East and the West

Bhutan

• Subsistence farming• New electricity

China

• Rapidly urbanizing, but still very agricultural• Many villagers enjoy some modern

conveniences

India

• Over one billion people• Highly diverse• 40% extremely poor, with a growing middle class