Midwest Mary

When we think of respecting life, we typically consider the unborn, the wee ones whose lives are prohibited from existence beyond the womb. (An estimated 1.1 million clinical abortions occurred in the United States in 2025. Around 73 million induced abortions take place worldwide each year.)

However, all of God’s creation needs our attention. In addition to these precious souls. please consider:

• The Poor— (One in 7 Americans live below the poverty line, and around 800 million people worldwide live in extreme poverty.)
• The Hungry— 48 million Americans (about 1 in 7) and about 673 million people (1 in 11) worldwide are estimated to have insufficient food.
• The Homeless— Statistics state that 745,652 people were homeless in 2025.
  • 479,332 people resided in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or safe havens.
  • 266,320 people lived in cars or the street.
  • Major disasters and extreme weather are the cause of relocation for an estimated 11 million residents in the US.
  • Worldwide, 1 in 70 people were forced to flee their home last year.
  • Estimates show that more than 300 million people worldwide lack permanent shelter and 2.8 billion lack safe housing.
• The Abused—117.8 million people were forcibly displaced at the end of December 2025 according to the UNHCR Global Trends report. World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF estimate that nearly 1 billion children and 840 million women face physical, emotional, or sexual violence at some point.
• The Imprisoned—The US has nearly two million people incarcerated. According to data from the Prison Policy Initiative, roughly 1.9 to 2 million people are locked up daily in the United States.
  • Inmates who are later proven innocent often spend 30 years or more in prison before being released.
  • Since 1973, the United States has officially cleared and released 203 people from death row, but researchers estimate that the real number of innocent people sentenced to death is closer to 4% of those incarcerated.
  • There are approximately 11.5 million to 11.7 million people in prison around the world, according to data tracked by the World Prison Population List.
  • According to Amnesty International, there were at least 25,508 people recorded as being under a sentence of death worldwide at the end of 2025.
• The Chronically Ill—In the United States, roughly 3 in 4 adults (about 76% or 194 million people) live with at least one chronic illness, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • More than half of U.S. adults (51% to 52%, or about 130–133 million people) live with two or more chronic conditions.
  • You can review comprehensive tracking metrics through the World Health Organization NCD Fact Sheet and analytical insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study.
• The Lonely—Around 1 in 6 people worldwide, or roughly over 1 billion individuals, experience loneliness at any given time, according to data from the World Health Organization Commission on Social Connection.
  • Surveys conducted with groups such as Meta-Gallup studies, estimate that up to 24% of adults (about 1.5 billion people) feel lonely on a regular basis.
  • Adolescents and young adults suffer the highest rates of loneliness.
  • Loneliness is more common in lower-income countries (nearly 1 in 4 people, or 24%) compared to higher-income nations (around 11%).
  • Health Impact: Chronic loneliness can result in serious illness and even death. According to WHO Commission on Social Connection, loneliness causes about 100 deaths every hour globally.
• The Caregivers— There are approximately 63 million family caregivers in the United States, (Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 report by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC).)
  • About 1 in 4 American adults (63 million people) serves as a family caregiver. The responsibilities impact caregivers’ finances, state of mind, stress level, and physical health.
  • Approximately 43% of the global population care for a family member or friend at some point.
• The Suicidal— An estimated 14.3 million adults had serious thoughts of suicide, 4.6 million planned an attempt, and 2.2 million attempted suicide in the U.S. Suicide remains the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10 to 34, while older adults (particularly ages 80+) experience some of the highest age-specific rates.
  • Worldwide, suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds worldwide. More than half (56%) of all global suicides happen before the age of 50. For every completed suicide, there are an estimated 20 suicide attempts (2021 statistics).
• The Environment— According to AI statistics, human activity currently uses the resources of 1.6 Earths, threatening 1 million species with extinction and altering 75% of land and 66% of marine environments.
  • Wildlife populations (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians) have declined by an average of 68% globally since 1970, largely driven by land-use changes and habitat conversion, according to Earth.Org.
  • Land use and agriculture generate roughly 25% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, while fossil fuel combustion remains the largest overall driver of atmospheric carbon and warming.
• Drinking Water—About 1.1 billion people globally lack access to clean water, and 2.7 billion experience water scarcity for at least one month out of the year (Earth.Org).

From this long list of statistics, it’s easy to see that we all are affected by these concerns. There is an urgent and immediate call to respect life on every level. A little care and compassion for all creation can make a powerful impact.

*Photo: Silver Lake Conservation, Crystal Lake, IL

©Mary K. Doyle, 2026