The Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report 2011 estimates that 71 000 South Africans are high-net individuals holding at least US $1 million in financial assets. China has over one million and the United States has over 10 million US Dollar millionaires. (Global Wealth Report 2011, http://bit.ly/wbdsWi)

This week’s theme: SA vs. the rest

In 2012, global output is projected to expand by 3.3%. Advanced economies are expected to grow 1.2%, while developing Asia will grow by 7.3% during 2012, and Sub Saharan Africa by 5.5%. (South Africa’s 2012 Budget Speech)

This week’s theme: SA vs. the rest

South Africa is the only country in the world whose murder rate exceeds its road accident fatality rate. (South Africa Survey, http://bit.ly/xqc3uG)

This week’s theme: SA vs. the rest

64% of South Africa’s liquid fuels come from imported crude. About 85% of these imports are from the Middle East and about 10% from Africa. (http://bit.ly/yFo4H4)

This week’s theme: The Environment

According to CARMA, Eskom is the world’s second biggest polluter among power companies (210 million tons of CO2 per annum), after Huaneng Power International in China (285 million tons of CO2 per annum). (CARMA – Carbon Monitoring for Action)

This week’s theme: The Environment

Hong Kong is the most energy efficient country in the world, with 14.8 GDP per unit of energy used. The least energy efficient country is Congo-Kinshasa with 1 GDP per unit of energy used. South Africa’s GDP per unit of energy use is 3.54. (The Economist Pocket World In Figures 2010, http://bit.ly/AqdoAf)

This week’s theme: The Environment

In 2009, the per capita electric power consumption was 4,532 kWh in South Africa, 51,259 kWh in Iceland and just 36 kWh in Haiti. (World Bank, http://bit.ly/AvSQKs)

This week’s theme: The Environment

In Southern Africa, more than 2 billion steel beverage cans are consumed per year. They are 100% recyclable. The current recovery rate for Southern Africa is 67.5%. (http://bit.ly/x7wTI8)

This week’s theme: The Environment

Around 15.3 million South Africans benefit from social grants, 10.3 million of whom are children. (http://bit.ly/xRqo5i)

This week’s theme: Mothers and Children

In 2010, South Africa’s child immunisation rate for measles expressed as a percentage of children aged 12-23 months, was 65%. All of South Africa’s neighbours had higher immunisation rates. (World Bank Indicators, http://bit.ly/wtBsc5)

This week’s theme: Mothers and Children