The man who started Microsoft, Bill Gates, has predicted that by 2035, there will be almost no poor countries in the world. Today, the World Bank says there are 35 poor countries. Most of the people who live in them are on low or no incomes. Gates said that nearly all these countries will be richer in the next 20 years.
He wrote: "Every nation in South America, Asia, and Central America (with the possible exception of Haiti), and most in coastal Africa will have joined the ranks of today's middle-income nations." He added: "When I was born, most countries in the world were poor. In the next two decades desperately poor countries will become the exception rather than the rule."
Mr Gates said some countries will still be poor. These include North Korea, Haiti and nations in central Africa. He said the good news was that: "Nearly 90% will have a higher income than India does today." He believes countries will become richer by copying their more successful neighbours. Countries will also benefit from new medicines, better seeds for farmers, and the Internet. Gates said many countries that were very poor just a few decades ago are now doing well. He said China, India, Brazil and Botswana were poor thirty years ago but now have growing economies. He said there was still a lot of work to do and that, "more than one billion people live in extreme poverty, so it's not time to celebrate".
1. How many poor countries are there (according to the World Bank)?
2. When will most of these poor countries be richer?
3. Which Central American country might not be richer?
4. What did Bill Gates say most countries were like when he was born?
5. What countries will be the exception rather than the rule in 20 years?
6. In which part of Africa will countries still be poor?
7. How does Mr Gates think countries will become richer?
8. What will farmers get?
9. How many countries did the article mention that were doing better?
10. How many people live in extreme poverty?
1. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'poor'?
2. Do you think Bill Gates' prediction will come true?
3. Why are countries poor?
4. Is your country rich or poor? Why do you say so?
5. How will the world change if no country is poor?
6. What can rich countries do to help poor countries?
7. How has the Internet helped countries to become richer?
8. How important is education in making a country richer?
9. Are the richest countries the best ones in which to live?
10. Will there always be millions of people living in poverty?
11. How would your society change if no one was poor?
12. What questions would you like to ask Bill Gates?
2. When will most of these poor countries be richer?
3. Which Central American country might not be richer?
4. What did Bill Gates say most countries were like when he was born?
5. What countries will be the exception rather than the rule in 20 years?
6. In which part of Africa will countries still be poor?
7. How does Mr Gates think countries will become richer?
8. What will farmers get?
9. How many countries did the article mention that were doing better?
10. How many people live in extreme poverty?
1. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'poor'?
2. Do you think Bill Gates' prediction will come true?
3. Why are countries poor?
4. Is your country rich or poor? Why do you say so?
5. How will the world change if no country is poor?
6. What can rich countries do to help poor countries?
7. How has the Internet helped countries to become richer?
8. How important is education in making a country richer?
9. Are the richest countries the best ones in which to live?
10. Will there always be millions of people living in poverty?
11. How would your society change if no one was poor?
12. What questions would you like to ask Bill Gates?