South Issue-Maps

(1) High Long-term Poverty: GDP per capita. (Poorest Global South nations shown in light green – income as low a $2 per person per day) The ability of national governments in developing nations to provide a full range of services – including health care and education – to their inhabitants is limited by the low revenue base from industrial and personal sources of taxes and fees. Some nations in the region have abundant natural resources that generate significant revenues, but the map confirms the pervasive poverty that exists even in these resource-rich nations. Source: Population Reference Bureau 2020.

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(3) Low Economic Growth Rate in High Poverty nations 2020 – 2030: this variable projects the change in “real GDP per capita” using the projected GDP growth rate adjusted for inflation and population growth. The map shows the great majority of sub-Saharan nations to have negative economic prospects – losses in real GDP in the next decade of up to 10 percent due to population growth exceeding national GDP growth. Tragically per capita income is projected to slip backwards toward ever more dire poverty. (Lowest real GDP per capita nations shown in gray at minus 10 percent; in medium blue at zero growth). Source: Tne Conference Board Global Economic Outlook 2021

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(4) Extreme High Proportion of Young Dependent Children: Of total national population, the percentage of dependent children 14 yrs of age or younger; a high proportion of children creates high need for health care, education, and support services that poor nations are incapable of satisfying. Furthermore, child-dominant populations create “momentum” for sustained population growth in the next generation – even if births-per-woman are reduced. (Highest national-cohort of “dependent children14-yrs of age and under” shown in dark blue at 41 to 51 percent of total population; over two-times higher than Europe/US rates at 12 to18 percent) Source: Population Reference Bureau 2020.

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(5) Extreme Low Use of Modern Contraceptives: Of total women age 15 to 49 yrs, the percentage using modern contraceptives. In Sub-Saharan Africa nations in 2019, fewer than 15 percent of married women of reproductive age use a modern method. (Lowest national rate of use-of-modern-contraceptive shown in light-gray at less than 15%; medium-gray at 15 to 29%; US/Europe at over 60%) Source: Population Reference Bureau 2019.

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(6) Expressed Desire not-to-be-pregnant yet using no contraceptive: Of total women age 15 to 49 yrs who express a desire to stop or delay childbearing, a significant percentage are not using any method of contraception. A recent study found an estimated 225 million women in developing regions had an unmet need for modern contraception; yet of this total, 160 million were using no contraceptive method. The reasons are varied and complex and include: limited access, religious or patriarchal discouragement, and cultural misinformation. In another survey – 23% say that they or others close to them oppose contraception and 26% were concerned for contraceptive side effects. This map represents Demand for family planning satisfied with modern methods. (Lowest rate of satisfied demand -shown in red at less than 50%; green at above 75%) Source: United Nations 2017.

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(9) Extreme High Gender Inequality in Global South nations: Pervasive cultural inequality excludes women from choices in their daily lives. It manifests in many dimensions: when and who to marry; whether or when to become pregnant; even whether to be subjected as a young girl to FGM (female genital mutilation) as are 250,000 girls each year. The United Nation’s gender inequality index combines deficits in reproductive health and civic/workplace empowerment. (Greatest gender inequality – shown in dark-red; next worst shown in medium-red; best in dark-green). Source: UN Development Program, 2020.

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