Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 

According to the findings of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals Report, the MDGs were the most successful anti-poverty movement in history, at the time. 

The report showed:  

  • The number of people living in extreme poverty had declined by more than half, falling from 1.9 billion in 1990 to 836 million in 2015. 

  • Gender parity in primary school had been achieved in the majority of countries. 

  • The rate of children dying before their fifth birthday had declined by more than half, dropping from 90 to 43 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1990. 

  • Figures for maternal mortality showed a decline of 45 per cent worldwide. 

  • Over 6.2 million malaria deaths had been averted between 2000 and 2015, while tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment interventions had saved an estimated 37 million lives between 2000 and 2013. 

  • Worldwide, 2.1 billion had gained access to improved sanitation and the proportion of people practicing open defecation had fallen almost by half since 1990. 

  • Official development assistance from developed countries had seen an increase of 66 per cent in real terms from 2000 and 2014, reaching $135.2 billion. 

 

There were eight Millennium Development Goals: 

  1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 
  2. Achieve universal primary education 
  3. Promote gender equality and empower women 
  4. Reduce child mortality 
  5. Improve maternal health 
  6. Combat HIV/Aids, Malaria and other diseases 
  7. Ensure environmental sustainability 
  8. Global partnership for development 

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