The drylands are home to the deepest pockets of poverty on earth. The incidence of poverty is highest in rural areas, where agriculture is the main occupation. Nearly every year, drought and hunger hit hard somewhere in the drylands. Though the external image of the tropical drylands is one of perennial crisis and suffering, there are signs of hope.
40% - The global area occupied by drylands
2.5 billion - The number of people living in the drylands
644 million - Poorest of the poor inhabit the drylands
1/3 - The number of people who depend on agriculture