michael zalla
We believe that education is the great equalizer, and that if people are provided with skills and knowledge, they can improve their lives ... tim cook
ed⋅u⋅ca⋅tion: great equalizer Today, there are nearly 150 countries* that are still considered to be underdeveloped or developing, in which citizens experience a lower quality of life as a direct result of fewer economic and educational opportunities. Indicators for categorizing such countries include agriculture, technology, education, and healthcare.

In developing (or third world) countries, the prevalence of (a) high birth rates, (b) low age averages for childbearing, and (c) shorter lifespans can be associated with low living standards, low educational levels and low social status for women.

The following interactive visualization harnesses existing data describing global trends in population growth, lifespan, education, and literacy, in the hopes of drawing visible and meaningful correlations between these development factors. Specifically, they are focused on exploring to what degree increased educational opportunities for women correlate with later childbearing, fewer children, and increased life expectancies for family members.

The visualizations display data collected from a mix of what the United Nations considers most developed, developing, and least developed countries. Data was publically provided by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (esa.un.org), as well as by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (uis.unesco.org) Data Centre.

According to the International Monetary Fund’s 2012 World Economic Outlook Report
Exploring global trends & female education
population growth rate
Net change in a country's population relative to its population from the previous year. A high population growth rate can indicate serious socioeconomic obstacles such as insufficient sexual education and access to effective contraceptives.
percentage of early births
Percentage of women who first give birth between the ages of 15 and 24. As a nation's level of education and female employment rises, so will the average maternal age at first birth.
average life expectancy
Exepected average lifetime of a citizen born in that year. Countries that suffer from famine, war, or poor health exhibit lower expectancies.
1980
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Percentage of Females Enrolled in Tertiary Education Programs
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Country Selection
 
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underdeveloped