Numbers: Sep. 10, 2007

GLOBAL ANXIETIES

42%

Percentage of global survey respondents who ranked crime and lawlessness among their top three personal concerns, according to a GfK Roper study. Other top worries included recession and unemployment, personal finances and education

-4%

Percent decrease in global concern over terrorism since last year

ARMED AMERICA

90

Number of guns in the U.S. for every 100 citizens, according to the 2007 Small Arms Survey, making it the most heavily armed country in the world. India has the second largest civilian gun-arsenal tally, with just 4 guns per 100 people

4.5 million

Number of new guns purchased in the U.S. each year, more than half of the 8 million produced worldwide

LITERACY

25%

Percentage of U.S. adults who did not read any books in the past year, according to an Associated Press–Ipsos poll. The average person said he or she read four

5

Number of books Americans claimed they had at least started reading per year, according to a 2005 Gallup poll. In 1999 the average respondent said he or she had begun at least 10

INSURANCE

15.3%

Percentage of Americans without health insurance, 2.2 million more people than last year

$48,201

Median household income, up 0.7%, in part because more people are working full-time

Sources: GfK Roper (2); Reuters (2); AP (2); LA Times (2)