The population of the world is growing every day. It is estimated that the world population increases by 187,500 daily. With an estimated 7.8 billion people currently on the planet, the United Nations predicts that there will be 8 billion by 2023 and 10 billion by 2057.
As the population increases, so does the need for wheelchairs. Experts estimate that of the 1.2 billion individuals in the 34 "developed countries", approximately 1% require a wheelchair. However, this figure drastically increases for the remaining individuals living in the 156 "developing countries" where it is estimated that 2% of the population require a wheelchair.
As one would expect, many already have access to a wheelchair. However, there are far more individuals that don't have access to wheelchairs than those who do. In developed countries, it's estimated that more than 95% of people who require a wheelchair already have access to one. The story is quite the opposite, however, in developing countries where less than 10% of people who require a wheelchair already have access to one.
When we do all the math, there are nearly 120 million individuals that need a wheelchair but do not have access to one. With the population growing every day, this figure increases by about 3,500 wheelchairs daily... one for every two and a half minutes of every day.
There are some phenomenal organizations that are raising money to manufacture and deliver wheelchairs to those who do not have access to one. The Wheelchair Foundation is one such organization. Since 2000, it has distributed well over 1 million wheelchairs in over 155 countries. While this is only a small fraction of the total wheelchair need, it is over 1 million individuals that now are able to experience more freedom and a higher quality of life due to their enhanced mobility.
mPOWER Chairs is committed to helping organizations like the Wheelchair Foundation to distribute more and more wheelchairs every year. Thanks to its customers, mPOWER Chairs is doing a small part to raise money for these endeavors.
