Many African and Asisan countries have been included in the first group and the second group. For the second group of 33 poorest countries, the improvement is less dramatic but still substantial. Per capita growth rate must increase from the present 1.7 percent to 3.3 percent. The 66 poorest countries must also show major improvements in education and health goals. The first group of 33 countries still need to record universal enrollment in primary school.
Gender imbalance is also still strong in the two groups of the poorest countries.
In the countries of the first group, one in 10 newborn infants will not survive their first year. In order to reduce infant mortality, the death rate for the first group will have to fall from the current 103 per 1,000 live births to 35. Other alarming trends also add to the gravity of concerns. At present rates of deforestation, two-thirds of the remaining tropical forests will disappear by the middle of the next century. If fish stocks continue to decline, thousands of livelihoods and the food security of up to a billion people will be threatened.