A Snapshot of Regional Progress: Latin America
Extreme poverty is declining in Latin America and the Caribbean.
At current rates, many, though not all, countries will meet the
poverty target. In many countries in this region, poverty reduction strategies are competing with persistent economic inequality, keeping gains from economic growth from reaching poor
households. In countries like Brazil and Mexico, strong government action is helping to reduce child hunger. Latin America and
the Caribbean are demonstrating some progress in the area of
gender equality. Since 1990, women have significantly increased
their role in the non-farm economy, but wage inequality remains
a problem. Central American countries such as Nicaragua and Caribbean countries such as Haiti are facing the greatest hurdles to
meeting the MDGs. After sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean countries have the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDs.
Goal 1: Population living on less than $2
and less than $1 per day (2004)
Percent of population
50
40
26.2
30
Goal 2: Proportion of children under age 5 who are
underweight (percentage)
20
10.2
10
11
8.6
5.1
6.0
1990
1990
7
2005
Developing Regions
2000
2005
2010 2015
Latin America & Caribbean
33
20
1995
Actual $2/day
Actual $1/day
27
10
17.3
0
Latin America & Caribbean
0
22.2
Projected $2/day
Projected $2/day
Source: The World Bank, Global Monitoring Report 2007.
30
40
50
Goal 3: Economic activity rates, by gender, 1990-2002
Source: United Nations, The Millennium Development Goals Report 2007.
100
Goal 3: Total number of people living with HIV
90
600,000
83.8
83.6
81.0
70
500,000
84.3.
80
60
Percentage
700,000
84.9
400,000
300,000
49.7
50
40
10 Briefing Paper, February 2008
Honduras
Guatemala
Peru
Dominican Republic
Venezuala
(Bolivian Republic of)
Source: United Nations: The Millennium
Development Goals: A Latin American and
Caribbean Perspective.
Argentina
10
Mexico
0
Colombia
20
Haiti
100,000
39.7
42.0
30
Brazil
200,000
37.9
41.1
0
1990
1994
Women
1997
1999
2002
Men
Source: United Nations: HZ[[