Goal 3Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all agesTarget 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live birthsIndicator 3.1.1: Maternal mortality ratioSH_STA_MORT: Maternal mortality ratioIndicator 3.1.2: Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnelSH_STA_BRTC: Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel (%)Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live birthsIndicator 3.2.1: Under-5 mortality rateSH_DYN_IMRTN: Infant deaths (number)SH_DYN_MORT: Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births)SH_DYN_IMRT: Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births)SH_DYN_MORTN: Under-five deaths (number)Indicator 3.2.2: Neonatal mortality rateSH_DYN_NMRTN: Neonatal deaths (number)SH_DYN_NMRT: Neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births)Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseasesIndicator 3.3.1: Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age and key populationsSH_HIV_INCD: Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex and age (per 1,000 uninfected population)Indicator 3.3.2: Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 populationSH_TBS_INCD: Tuberculosis incidence (per 100,000 population)Indicator 3.3.3: Malaria incidence per 1,000 populationSH_STA_MALR: Malaria incidence per 1,000 population at risk (per 1,000 population)Indicator 3.3.4: Hepatitis B incidence per 100,000 populationSH_HAP_HBSAG: Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (%)Indicator 3.3.5: Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseasesSH_TRP_INTVN: Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases (number)Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-beingIndicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory diseaseSH_DTH_NCOM: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease (probability)SH_DTH_NCD: Number of deaths attributed to non-communicable diseases, by type of disease and sex (number)Indicator 3.4.2: Suicide mortality rateSH_STA_SCIDE: Suicide mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 100,000 population)SH_STA_SCIDEN: Number of deaths attributed to suicide, by sex (number)Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcoholIndicator 3.5.1: Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disordersSH_SUD_ALCOL: Alcohol use disorders, 12-month prevalence (%)SH_SUD_TREAT: Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders (%)Indicator 3.5.2: Alcohol per capita consumption (aged 15 years and older) within a calendar year in litres of pure alcoholSH_ALC_CONSPT: Alcohol consumption per capita (aged 15 years and older) within a calendar year (litres of pure alcohol)Target 3.6: By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidentsIndicator 3.6.1: Death rate due to road traffic injuriesSH_STA_TRAF: Death rate due to road traffic injuries, by sex (per 100,000 population)Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmesIndicator 3.7.1: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15–49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methodsSH_FPL_MTMM: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods (% of women aged 15-49 years)Indicator 3.7.2: Adolescent birth rate (aged 10–14 years; aged 15–19 years) per 1,000 women in that age groupSP_DYN_ADKL: Adolescent birth rate (per 1,000 women aged 15-19 years)Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for allIndicator 3.8.1: Coverage of essential health servicesSH_ACS_UNHC: Universal health coverage (UHC) service coverage indexIndicator 3.8.2: Proportion of population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or incomeSH_XPD_EARN25: Proportion of population with large household expenditures on health (greater than 25%) as a share of total household expenditure or income (%)SH_XPD_EARN10: Proportion of population with large household expenditures on health (greater than 10%) as a share of total household expenditure or income (%)Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contaminationIndicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollutionSH_HAP_ASMORT: Age-standardized mortality rate attributed to household air pollution (deaths per 100,000 population)SH_STA_AIRP: Crude death rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution (deaths per 100,000 population)SH_STA_ASAIRP: Age-standardized mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution (deaths per 100,000 population)SH_AAP_MORT: Crude death rate attributed to ambient air pollution (deaths per 100,000 population)SH_AAP_ASMORT: Age-standardized mortality rate attributed to ambient air pollution (deaths per 100,000 population)SH_HAP_MORT: Crude death rate attributed to household air pollution (deaths per 100,000 population)Indicator 3.9.2: Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) services)SH_STA_WASH: Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (deaths per 100,000 population)Indicator 3.9.3: Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisoningSH_STA_POISN: Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisonings, by sex (deaths per 100,000 population)Target 3.a: Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriateIndicator 3.a.1: Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and olderSH_PRV_SMOK: Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older, by sex (%)Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for allIndicator 3.b.1: Proportion of the target population covered by all vaccines included in their national programmeSH_ACS_DTP3: Proportion of the target population with access to 3 doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) (%)SH_ACS_MCV2: Proportion of the target population with access to measles-containing-vaccine second-dose (MCV2) (%)SH_ACS_PCV3: Proportion of the target population with access to pneumococcal conjugate 3rd dose (PCV3) (%)SH_ACS_HPV: Proportion of the target population with access to affordable medicines and vaccines on a sustainable basis, human papillomavirus (HPV) (%)Indicator 3.b.2: Total net official development assistance to medical research and basic health sectorsDC_TOF_HLTHNT: Total official development assistance to medical research and basic heath sectors, net disbursement, by recipient countries (millions of constant 2018 United States dollars)DC_TOF_HLTHL: Total official development assistance to medical research and basic heath sectors, gross disbursement, by recipient countries (millions of constant 2018 United States dollars)Indicator 3.b.3: Proportion of health facilities that have a core set of relevant essential medicines available and affordable on a sustainable basisSH_HLF_EMED: Proportion of health facilities that have a core set of relevant essential medicines available and affordable on a sustainable basis (%)Target 3.c: Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing StatesIndicator 3.c.1: Health worker density and distributionSH_MED_DEN: Health worker density, by type of occupation (per 10,000 population)SH_MED_HWRKDIS: Health worker distribution, by sex and type of occupation (%)Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risksIndicator 3.d.1: International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity and health emergency preparednessSH_IHR_CAPS: International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity, by type of IHR capacity (%)Indicator 3.d.2: Percentage of bloodstream infections due to selected antimicrobial-resistant organismsiSH_BLD_MRSA: Percentage of bloodstream infection due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among patients seeking care and whose

In 2022, 2,088 people died as a result of intentional homicide in Haiti. The following year, in 2023, the number of victims had reached 4,789, the highest number of homicides since at least 2010.

In 2024, the highest homicide rate among 22 Latin American and Caribbean countries surveyed was in Haiti, with around 62 murders committed per 100,000 inhabitants. Trinidad and Tobago came in second, with a homicide rate of 46, while Honduras ranked seventh, with 25. In the same year, the lowest rate was recorded in El Salvador, with a homicide rate of 1.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. A violence-ridden region Violence and crime are some of the most pressing problems affecting Latin American society nowadays. More than 40 of the 50 most dangerous cities in the world are located in this region, as well as one of the twenty countries with the least peace in the world according to the Global Peace Index. Despite governments’ large spending on security and high imprisonment rates, drug and weapon trafficking, organized crime, and gangs have turned violence into an epidemic that affects the whole region and a solution to this issue appears to be hardly attainable. The cost of violence in Mexico Mexico stands out as an example of the great cost that violence inflicts upon a country, since beyond claiming human lives, it also affects everyday life and has a negative impact on the economy. Mexicans have a high perceived level of insecurity, as they do not only fear becoming victims of homicide, but also of other common crimes, such as assault or rape. Such fear prevents people from performing everyday activities, for instance, going out at night, taking a taxi or going to the movies or the theater. Furthermore, the economic toll of violence in Mexico is more than considerable. For example, the cost of homicide and violent crime amounted to 2099.8 and 1778.1 billion Mexican pesos in 2023, respectively.

Since 1900, the earthquake in Tangshan in China in 1976 caused the highest number of deaths, reaching over 240,000. However, some estimate the number to be over 650,000 fatalities. The earthquake in Haiti in 2010 has the second highest death toll, but also here numbers vary from just above 100,000 to over 300,000 fatalities. Four of the 10 deadliest earthquakes during the period were registered in China.

From 1950 to 2023, the cyclone Bhola that hit Bangladesh in 1970 was the deadliest natural disaster in the world. The exact death toll is impossible to calculate, but it is estimated that over 300,000 lives were lost as a result of the cyclone. The Tangshan earthquake in China in 1976 is estimated to have caused the second highest number of fatalities. The Haiti earthquake The fifth deadliest natural disaster during this period was the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. However, death tolls vary between 100,000 and 316,000, meaning that some estimates makes it the deadliest natural disaster in the world since 1950, and the deadliest earthquake since 1900. Sixty percent of the country’s hospitals and eighty percent of the country’s schools were destroyed. It was the worst earthquake to hit the Caribbean in 200 years, with a magnitude of 7.0 at its epicenter only 25 kilometers away from Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Poor construction practices were to blame for many of the deaths; Haiti’s buildings were not earthquake resistant and were not built according to building code due to a lack of licensed building professionals. High population density was also to blame for the high number of fatalities. One fourth of the country’s inhabitants lived in the Port-au-Prince area, meaning half of the country’s population was directly affected by the earthquake. Increasing extreme weather As global warming continues to accelerate climate change, it is estimated that natural catastrophes such as cyclones, rainfalls, landslides, and heat waves will intensify in the coming years and decades. For instance, the economic losses caused by natural disasters worldwide increased since 2015. Moreover, it is expected that countries in the Global South will be affected the most by climate change in the coming years, and many of these are already feeling the impact of climate change.

This statistic shows the number of deaths due to flooding disasters in certain countries between 1900 and 2016*. The floods in China in July 1931 led to 3.7 million deaths.FloodsThe 1931 Central China floods caused the most deaths due to a flood in the past century. 28 years later in 1959, the Yellow River flooded into East China killing an estimated 2 million people. The death toll due to this flood has been also associated with the Great sparrow campaign that arose due to the Great Chinese Famine that began in 1958. Citizens were told to kill sparrows and other wild birds that ate crop seeds which lead to an explosive increase in the population of crop-eating insects. This massive ecological shift, starvation, as well as floods and drought lead to the deaths of many Chinese people. More recently, a 1996 flood and 1998 flood in Yangtze, China caused some 30.7 billion U.S. dollars and 24 billion U.S. dollars in damage. In 2014, 38 lives were lost in the United States due to floods or flash floods. Since 1980, the two of the most significant natural disasters have been the earthquake in Haiti in January 2010, which caused 22,570 deaths and the 2004 earthquake and resulting tsunami which caused 220,000 deaths in countries like Thailand and Sri Lanka. Death tolls in Haiti were aggravated by poverty and poor housing conditions that many Haitians experience.

Since 2000, hurricanes were the natural disasters with the highest estimated economic losses in the Caribbean. Hurricane Ian, which affected several islands in the Caribbean (especially Cuba) and the southeast of the United States (specially Florida and the Carolinas) in September of 2022, caused overall losses for approximately 100 billion U.S. dollars. Hurricane Maria in 2017 ranked second, with an economic impact estimated at 68.6 billion U.S. dollars, in this case including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominica, Guadeloupe, the Dominican Republic, Martinique, and Haiti.

The aftermath of Hurricane Dorian

The Bahamas was the country most severely affected by Hurricane Dorian, which hit in late August 2019, lasting until September 9. This storm, a category 5 hurricane, claimed a total of 65 lives and was labelled the worst cyclone and natural disaster to ever occur in the Bahamas. That year, this island nation received the highest extreme climate risk score in the whole Latin American and Caribbean region.

The death toll of natural disasters in the Caribbean

The magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck Haiti on August 2021 has been the deadliest natural disaster in Latin America and the Caribbean from 2018 to 2022, estimated to have killed 2,248 people. Regarding tropical cyclones, hurricane Eta in 2020 has been the deadliest in the region during the same period with approximately 183 victims.