Good news to those of us who believe in development

I'm glad to hear that you're optimistic about development! Here are some recent good news stories that might be of interest to you:

  1. Global poverty rates have declined significantly: According to the World Bank, the percentage of people living in extreme poverty (less than $1.90 a day) has decreased from 35% in 1990 to 9.2% in 2015. This means that over 1 billion people have been lifted out of extreme poverty in just 25 years.
  2. Child mortality rates are declining: The number of children under the age of 15 who die each year has decreased by more than half since 1990, from 12.7 million to 5.4 million in 2019. This is a significant achievement, especially considering the rapid population growth during this period.
  3. More children are attending school: The number of children enrolled in primary education has increased from 75% in 1990 to 91% in 2018. This means that millions more children have access to education, which is a key driver of development and economic growth.
  4. Life expectancy is increasing: Global life expectancy has increased by 5.5 years since 2000, from 65.3 years to 70.8 years in 2019. This is a testament to improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and living standards.
  5. Renewable energy is on the rise: The cost of renewable energy has decreased dramatically in recent years, making it more competitive with fossil fuels. As a result, renewable energy accounted for 26% of global electricity generation in 2019, up from 21% in 2015.
  6. Global hunger rates are declining: The number of people suffering from hunger has decreased by 30% since 2000, from 1.02 billion to 720 million in 2019. This is a significant achievement, especially considering the growing global population.
  7. More people have access to clean water: The number of people without access to clean water has decreased by 45% since 1990, from 2.3 billion to 1.2 billion in 2019. This has significant implications for public health and economic development.
  8. Mobile phone penetration is increasing: The number of mobile phone subscriptions has increased from 1.2 billion in 2000 to 8.9 billion in 2020. This has transformed the way people communicate, access information, and conduct business.
  9. Global trade is increasing: Global trade has increased by 60% since 2000, from $6.5 trillion to $22.5 trillion in 2020. This has helped to drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and increase access to goods and services.
  10. More people are living in peace: The number of conflicts and wars has decreased significantly since the end of the Cold War. According to the Global Peace Index, the world has become a more peaceful place, with 75% of countries experiencing a decrease in conflict since 2007.

These are just a few examples of the many positive developments that are taking place around the world. While there are still many challenges to overcome, it's clear that progress is being made and that the world is becoming a better place for many people.