Try this brief quiz (if you haven’t seen my other blog):
- Which country is the richest in the world in terms of median wealth?
- Which countries come close?
- Which countries have the greatest and least disparity between the rich and the rest?
- In the richest country, what percentage of people live in poverty?
Have a guess, then check out the answers.
Some recent statistics
The world’s richest countries
According to a recent Credit Suisse report revealed that Australians are the world’s richest people.
- Median adult Australian wealth is $US 219,505, 50% more than France and Italy, double that of United Kingdom and Japan, and more than double the rest. Median wealth measures what a reasonably normal or average person owns.
- The mean wealth is always higher than the median, because the wealth of a small number of very rich people increases the average. Switzerland has the highest average wealth ($US 512,562), Australia is second ($US 402,578), with Norway, Sweden and USA next.
- The ratio of mean to median is a measure of the wealth disparity in a country. On this measure, Australia is one of the most equal countries (along with Finland, Italy, Japan and Spain), with a ratio of less 2, while some of the more unequal countries are USA (6.7), South Africa (6.3), Sweden (5.6) and Switzerland (5.3).
Poverty in Australia
So Australians are among the richest people in the world and we have a more equal spread of wealth than most countries.
But poverty is still increasing in Australia. Unitingcare has released research that shows the percentage of people living in poverty has risen from 10.2% to 11.8% of the population, at the same time as average household wealth grew by 2.6% just last year.
2.6 million people now struggle to provide an adequate standard of living, most not eating as well as they should.
And it is quite possible that if you come from another country, the situation is just as bad, perhaps worse.
The bottom line?
How do you think a follower of Jesus should feel about all that? What would Jesus do?
Something to think about.
Hi. Surprisingly, another year is coming to it’s end, but the social problems found within the ranks of wealth and poverty seem never to end. The question remains; WHY?
First of all our dedicated Christian Behavior Research and Study team would like to thank you for your regular updates and worthy messages. May you be blessed with all that is needed to strengthen your work and cause.
For the past 24 years we at CBRS have focused our research and study on Christian behavior, that is entirely based on the Living Word of God. To ensure effective results, we have carefully studied the Scriptures of God’s Living Word, not only in English, but also in Greek and in Hebrew over the last 24 years.
With this, we needed to know what those outside the circle of Christianity think about the behavior patterns of Christians, and how they see Christians today. The whole aim is to make Christians aware of the problems within Christianity, and to see the damage it is causing to the Truth of God’s Living Word.
Our research and study is not an attack on the name of Christianity, but it is there to try and eliminate the bad name Christianity has bound itself to. We do not believe in hiding the truth of our findings, but we are there to expose the truth as it is, based on facts.
Over the years we have recorded many questions that were asked by non-christians and fallen christians, which we believe must be answered by all Christians worldwide. These questions concern the behavior of Christians today, which do fall within the Christian responsibilities commanded in the Living Word of God.
Therefore, every question must be answered with all honesty by each and every Christian, and must be based on the Truth of God’s Living Word at all times. This will also help the Christian to evaluate the road they are currently walking, and to be in the position to eliminate each and every wrong within their lives.
Should you be interested in receiving these valid questions, we will gladly email them to you. For our research records and findings, personal names are not required, but we will appreciate the name of the denomination, telephone number, and email address.
The final report of our findings will be available and unveiled within the next 6 months, God willing. All participants will receive the full preliminary report by email, and will have the opportunity to comment on this report before it’s final release, which will be based on proven facts.
Thanking you, and God Bless.
Charles Allen CBRS Leader
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom – let your email find you!
Hi Charles, thanks for your comment. Do you have a website?
UnkleE, I think this is an interesting tool/game that shows the inequality between countries:
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/interactive/2012/dec/20/geography-game-how-well-know-world