Progress Mixed Halfway to Development Goals for 2015 (1/2)

In September of 2000, world leaders set 8 goals for bringing millions of people out of poverty. These became known as the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Among them: cut in half the number of people living on less than one dollar a day and halt the spread of AIDS and malaria.

The goals also include improving survival rates for pregnant women and young children, and educating all children. Working for equality between women and men and dealing with environmental needs like safe water are also included.

The target date for reaching the goals is 2015. We are now halfway to that date and a United Nations progress report says results have been mixed.

For example, it says the share of people in extreme poverty has fallen from nearly one-third to less than one-fifth. That was between 1990 and 2004. If this progress continues, the U.N. estimates that the poverty reduction goal will be met for the world as a whole and many areas.