the worst places to be a kid

Each year, the United Nations ranks more than 175 countries according to health, education, and standard of living. Known as the Human Development Index, the annual list provides statistics about life around the world.

the index is at http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/ human development indicators pages 219 to 220

Norway, Sweden, Australia, and Canada topped the list with their high standards of living, long life expectancies, and low infant mortality rates. At the bottom of the list, however, are a number of countries where it is much more difficult for children.

The Worst of the Worst
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone has an infant mortality rate of 166 deaths per 1,000 live births. The average life expectancy in Sierra Leone is a mere 34 years.

Considered to be the world's least-developed nation, more than half of Sierra Leone's population of 5.3 million lives in extreme poverty. The country's decade-long civil war ended in 2002, but the problems that caused the war—poverty, tribal rivalry, the illicit diamond trade, and government corruption—are ongoing. World Vision began working in Sierra Leone in 1978.

Niger
In Niger, the infant mortality rate is 154 deaths per 1,000 live births. A child growing up there can expect to live only 46 years on average.

This arid country of 12.9 million is the world's poorest country and its second-least developed. Drought and hunger affect the population of subsistence farmers almost annually. Literacy rates are low and disease is widespread. World Vision has been working in Niger since 1973.

Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso has an infant mortality rate of 107 deaths per 1,000 live births. The average life expectancy in Burkina Faso is only 46 years.

Landlocked in west Africa, this small country of 13.8 million has suffered recurring droughts and military coups. Allegations of human rights violations and involvement in the diamond smuggling trade have dogged the country for decades.

Mali
In Mali, the infant mortality rate is 122 deaths per 1,000 live births. A child growing up there can expect to live only 49 years on average.

A relatively peaceful, democratic country of 13.8 million, Mali's poor rainfall, recurrent droughts, and degradation of natural resources have contributed to the decline of food production. Approximately 80 per cent of Malians work in agriculture, yet less than four percent of the land is arable. World Vision has worked in Mali since 1975.

famines, droughts, plagues, wars. you read about them in the bible. these poorest of the poor nations live them daily, yearly, their entire lives.

and we in canada rank 5th in the world for quality of life. too many of us enjoy this 'quality' of life, completely ignoring the poor that God commanded us to clothe and feed and care for.