This lesson is designed to introduce students to common statistics used to compare countries. The statistics include life expectancy at birth, literacy rate, per capita GDP, % population under 15, HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate, and cell phone subscribers per 1,000 people. Students evaluate possibilities presented by particularly high, or low statistics.

The best use for this lesson is at the beginning of a world history course which will survey many regions, and incorporate these statistics into country case studies. This lesson includes a PowerPoint presentation with a slide by slide guide, a blank chart to use in conjunction with the PPT, and 3 differentiated assessments with answer keys.