Overall, humanity is getting healthier. Life expectancy is increasing, and child mortality declined substantially in the 1990s. Most of the world's population can now expect to live at least to age 60 – twice as long as a century ago.

But while the rich suffer the health costs of over-consumption, millions of people are dying each year from diseases that could be prevented by simple remedies such as mosquito nets and antibiotics. Each year more than half a million women die in childbirth, greatly increasing the risk that their children will die as well. Even in rich countries, a substantial proportion of people suffer ill health primarily because of their economic status. For example, it has been estimated that more than 18,000 Americans die prematurely each year solely because they lack health insurance.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to wreak havoc especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2003, 3 million people died of the disease and 40 million people are now infected. In some parts of Africa the epidemic has decimated an entire generation, creating massive social and economic problems. Fewer than 4% of Africans in need of antiretroviral treatment are receiving drugs, partly because of the reluctance of Western pharmaceutical companies to forego lucrative profits. Some countries such as Brazil and Thailand have made progress towards containing the disease, but HIV/AIDS is increasing in many countries including India and Russia.