The 1 to 2 billion poorest in the world, who don't have food for the day, suffer from the worst disease: globalization deficiency. The way globalization is occurring could be much better, but the worst thing is not being part of it. For those people, we need to support good civil societies and governments.

The quote "The 1 to 2 billion poorest in the world, who don't have food for the day, suffer from the worst disease: globalization deficiency. The way globalization is occurring could be much better, but the worst thing is not being part of it. For those people, we need to support good civil societies and governments." by Hans Rosling addresses the global inequalities exacerbated by uneven access to the benefits of globalization. Rosling, a renowned Swedish physician, statistician, and public educator, dedicated his career to promoting a fact-based understanding of global development and poverty reduction.

In this quote, Rosling identifies "globalization deficiency" as the most severe condition affecting the world’s poorest—those who lack even basic necessities like food. Unlike critiques that blame globalization outright, Rosling argues that the real crisis is exclusion from it. While globalization has provided immense opportunities for growth, innovation, and access to resources for many, billions remain disconnected from its advantages due to geographic, political, or economic barriers.

Rosling acknowledges that globalization is imperfect—its implementation and distribution can be flawed and uneven—but he stresses that not being included in the global economy is far more damaging. Those left out suffer not just materially but also lack access to education, technology, healthcare, and markets—tools necessary for long-term improvement. His point is not to discard globalization, but to reform it in ways that include and uplift those most in need.

Ultimately, Rosling’s quote is a call to action for building strong civil societies and responsible governments that can integrate marginalized populations into the broader global framework. He believed that >infrastructure development are key to reducing extreme poverty. Through his work and this quote, Rosling reminds us that the goal is not less globalization—but better, more inclusive globalization.