Since 1990 the world has made major strides capabilities.Work by artists,musicians and in human development.The global HDI value writers is enriching human lives.More than has increased by more than a quarter and that 970 million people who engage in volunteer of the least developed countries by more than activity each year are helping families and half.This progress has been fairly steady over communities,building social networks and time and across regions.The number of people contributing to social cohesion. living in low human development fell from 3 billion in 1990 to slightly more than I billion in 2014 (see table 8 in Statistical annex). Yet human progress has been Today,people are living longer,more chil- uneven,human deprivations dren are going to school and more people have are still widespread and much access to clean water and basic sanitation.This human potential remains unused progress goes hand in hand with rising incomes, producing the highest standards of living in hu- Human development has been uneven among man history.A digital revolution now connects regions,across countries and within countries. people across societies and countries.Just as In 2014 Latin America and the Caribbean's important,political developments are enabling HDI value was 0.748,compared with 0.686 more people than ever to live under democratic in the Arab States.And the maternal mortality regimes.All are important facets of human ratio was only 21 per 100,000 live births in development. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Between 1990 and 2015 income poverty in Development countries,compared with 183 in developing country regions fell by more than South Asia (see table 5 in Statistical annex). two-thirds.The number ofextreme poor people Globally women earn 24 percent less than worldwide fell from 1.9 billion to 836 million. men and hold only 25 percent of administra- The child mortality rate fell by more than half, tive and managerial positions in the business and under-five deaths fell from 12.7 million to world-while 32 percent of businesses have 6 million.More than 2.6 billion people gained no women in senior management positions. access to an improved source of drinking water, Women still hold only 22 percent of seats in The number of people and 2.1 billion gained access to improved sani-single or lower houses of national parliament. tation facilities,even as the world's population In Malaysia the richest 10 percent of the living in low human rose from 5.3 billion to 7.3 billion. population had 32 percent of national in- development fell by Work in various forms by 7.3 billion people come in 2012,the poorest 10 percent of the nearly 2 billion has contributed to this progress.Nearly a bil-population had only 2 percent.In Moldova lion people who work in agriculture and more 69 percent of urban people have access to safe than 500 million family farms produce more drinking water,compared with only 23 per- than 80 percent of the world's food,improving cent of rural people. nutrition and health.Worldwide,80 million Added to the uneven human development workers in health and education have enhanced achievements are widespread human depriva- human capabilities.More than a billion work- tions.Worldwide 795 million people suffer ers in services have contributed to human from chronic hunger,11 children under age progress.In China and India 23 million jobs 5 die every minute and 33 mothers die every in clean energy are increasing environmental hour.About 37 million people live with HIV sustainability. and 1I million with tuberculosis. Work has a societal value that goes beyond More than 660 million people use an un- the gains of individual workers.More than improved source of drinking water,2.4 billion 450 million entrepreneurs are contributing to people use an unimproved sanitation facility human innovation and creativity.Some 53 mil- and nearly a billion people resort to open lion paid domestic workers are addressing the defecation. care needs of people.Care work for children Worldwide 780 million adults and 103 mil- is preparing them for the future.Work that lion young people (ages 15-24)are illiterate. involves caring for older people or people with In developed countries 160 million people are disabilities is helping them maintain their functionally illiterate.Globally 250 million 4 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2015The number of people living in low human development fell by nearly 2 billion Since 1990 the world has made major strides in human development. The global HDI value has increased by more than a quarter and that of the least developed countries by more than half. This progress has been fairly steady over time and across regions. The number of people living in low human development fell from 3 billion in 1990 to slightly more than 1 billion in 2014 (see table 8 in Statistical annex). Today, people are living longer, more chil￾dren are going to school and more people have access to clean water and basic sanitation. This progress goes hand in hand with rising incomes, producing the highest standards of living in hu￾man history. A digital revolution now connects people across societies and countries. Just as important, political developments are enabling more people than ever to live under democratic regimes. All are important facets of human development. Between 1990 and 2015 income poverty in developing country regions fell by more than two-thirds. The number of extreme poor people worldwide fell from 1.9 billion to 836 million. The child mortality rate fell by more than half, and under-five deaths fell from 12.7 million to 6 million. More than 2.6 billion people gained access to an improved source of drinking water, and 2.1 billion gained access to improved sani￾tation facilities, even as the world’s population rose from 5.3 billion to 7.3 billion. Work in various forms by 7.3 billion people has contributed to this progress. Nearly a bil￾lion people who work in agriculture and more than 500 million family farms produce more than 80 percent of the world’s food, improving nutrition and health. Worldwide, 80  million workers in health and education have enhanced human capabilities. More than a billion work￾ers in services have contributed to human progress. In China and India 23 million jobs in clean energy are increasing environmental sustainability. Work has a societal value that goes beyond the gains of individual workers. More than 450 million entrepreneurs are contributing to human innovation and creativity. Some 53 mil￾lion paid domestic workers are addressing the care needs of people. Care work for children is preparing them for the future. Work that involves caring for older people or people with disabilities is helping them maintain their capabilities. Work by artists, musicians and writers is enriching human lives. More than 970  million people who engage in volunteer activity each year are helping families and communities, building social networks and contributing to social cohesion. Yet human progress has been uneven, human deprivations are still widespread and much human potential remains unused Human development has been uneven among regions, across countries and within countries. In 2014 Latin America and the Caribbean’s HDI value was 0.748, compared with 0.686 in the Arab States. And the maternal mortality ratio was only 21 per 100,000 live births in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, compared with 183 in South Asia (see table 5 in Statistical annex). Globally women earn 24  percent less than men and hold only 25 percent of administra￾tive and managerial positions in the business world—while 32  percent of businesses have no women in senior management positions. Women still hold only 22  percent of seats in single or lower houses of national parliament. In Malaysia the richest 10  percent of the population had 32  percent of national in￾come in 2012, the poorest 10 percent of the population had only 2  percent. In Moldova 69 percent of urban people have access to safe drinking water, compared with only 23  per￾cent of rural people. Added to the uneven human development achievements are widespread human depriva￾tions. Worldwide 795  million people suffer from chronic hunger, 11 children under age 5 die every minute and 33 mothers die every hour. About 37 million people live with HIV and 11 million with tuberculosis. More than 660  million people use an un￾improved source of drinking water, 2.4 billion people use an unimproved sanitation facility and nearly a billion people resort to open defecation. Worldwide 780 million adults and 103 mil￾lion young people (ages 15–24) are illiterate. In developed countries 160 million people are functionally illiterate. Globally 250  million 4 | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2015