CHINA, AN ECONOMIC MIRACLE

In China 25 years ago, over 600 million people - two-thirds of the population - were living in extreme poverty (on $1 a day or less). Now, the number $1 day is below 180 million. In the world as a whole, a stunning 135 million people escaped dire poverty between 1999 and 2004. This is more than the population of Japan or Russia - and more people, more quickly than at any other time in history.