(2 of 3)
Many nations have made progress toward reducing the number of women dying from complications during pregnancy and childbirth, in part by training more midwives and increasing female education. The majority of the world's maternal deaths (on average, roughly 1,000 each day in 2008) occur in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
9 | BENTLEYS SOLD IN RUSSIA
Russia's growing luxury market is a testament to its new wealth, fueled by its powerful oil and natural gas companies.
2000 0
2009 103
Price range (approx.): $207,678-$505,864
10 | CHINA INVESTS IN AFRICA
China's trade with Africa grew tenfold in the past decade, totaling $106 billion in 2008. Its largest partner there is resource-rich Angola. Bilateral trade figures below:
2000
$1.6 BILLION
2009
$17 BILLION
11 | OPIUM HARD TO UPROOT
Most opium-poppy cultivation in Afghanistan takes place in nine of its 34 provinces. Coalition efforts to curb opium have been frustrated. Area under cultivation:
2000
82,000 HECTARES (317 sq. mi.)
2010
123,000 HECTARES (475 sq. mi.)
12 | MOBILE NATION
India's cell-phone market has become one of the world's largest, creating new possibilities for many of the country's rural poor.
2000
2 MILLION HANDSETS
2010
545 MILLION HANDSETS
13 | INTERNET USERS IN CHINA
In spite of state censorship and monitoring, China's Internet community is booming, with 30% of its population now online.
2000
22 MILLION
2010
420 ILLION
14 | INDONESIA'S CO[subscript 2] EMISSIONS
Indonesia is the world's third largest emitter, in large part because of the effects of deforestation and the destruction of its carbon-rich peat lands.
2000
267 MILLION METRIC TONS
2008
434 MILLION METRIC TONS
WORLD STATS
Population
2000
6.1 billion
2010
6.9 billion
Billionaires
2000 306
2010 1,011
The undernourished
2000
857 million
2010
925 million
Money leaving Africa illegally
2000
$13.1 billion
2010
$77.8 billion
All-time top-grossing film
2000
James Cameron's Titanic, $1.8 billion
2010
James Cameron's Avatar, $2.8 billion
Terrorist attacks
2000
423
2009
10,999 (4,584 in Iraq and Afghanistan)
Tallest building
2000
Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur
1,483 FT.
2010
Burj Khalifa, Dubai