The vast majority of our ancestors lived and died in humanity’s natural state of disease-ridden abject poverty and pervasive ignorance. In 1820, about 84% of the world’s population lived in extreme poverty (less than $1.90 per day per person). Back then, most of the world lived under a king or iron-handed ruler and there was little free-market capitalism.
In 1910 66% lived in poverty. In 1950 it had fallen to 55%. Today only 8.6% of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty.
Great news!
Progress in our society is significantly underreported. Thanks for sharing.
We need to communicate this to the younger generations
The myth of the Good Old Days is very dangerous. It makes people mistakenly think they are missing out, or have been cheated, and therefore work to destroy advances that have been made in an effort to return to that earlier time. While far from perfect, we are fortunate to be in the Good Present Days.