People in the United States often don’t realize how lucky they actually are. Yes, bad things happen. Not everything in life is going to go the way you want it to go. Losing your job, finding out that your grandma has cancer, or losing a friend may seem like the end of the world to you. These are all things that are horrible. However, the occurrence of one bad thing does not mean your life is completely awful. I created a list of countries in the world where the living conditions are the opposite to what we are used to in the United States. I hope that this list will help people realize how much in life they have to be thankful for.

1. Zimbabwe

Over 70 percent of the people in Zimbabwe currently live below the poverty line, with most people living in small shacks that provide little to no shelter, according to the World Food Programme. In addition to this, Malaria and HIV/AIDS are a huge problem for the people living in Zimbabwe. In 2013 there were over 400,000 reported cases of Malaria, according to the World Health Organization.

2. Iraq

Iraq is one of the most violent countries in the world. It is also currently a war zone. Because of this, many families are forced to flee from their homes and find shelter anywhere they can, even if that means settling on the side of the road. When families are displaced from their homes, they are left with nowhere to go. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, approximately 4 million people in Iraq have been displaced.

3. Darfur, Sudan

Those living in Darfur, Sudan, are well aware of the Rapid Support Force (RSF), a government force in Sudan that is controlled by the National Intelligence and Security Services. This government force has led two campaigns within the past two years that have been scaring for the people of Sudan. The RSF would try to take livestock from people, and make families leave their homes. The RSF would also rape a massive number of people during these campaigns and kill anyone who did not comply with their orders. Human Rights Watch reports that many living in Darfur constantly worry about being attacked by the RSF again or being abused by a part of the government.

4. North Korea

North Korea is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts the country has ever faced. Almost 2 million of the people in North Korea are malnourished, according to the World Food Program. Even worse, many people are starving to death. If something doesn't change soon, millions could die from starvation, warns the Asia Society. The Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-Un, has yet to do anything about the crisis North Korea is facing. Instead, he spends his time putting more money into nuclear and missile programs.

5. Uganda

Uganda has been fighting an endless war for many years. The Lord’s Resistance Army, a rebel group, is one of the biggest threats to people living in this country, according to the organization War Child. The Lord’s Resistance Army attacks villages in Uganda, killing and torturing the people of the village. Children are often abducted from their homes in the middle of the night. The boys are forced to fight in the war, and girls are forced to be sex slaves for the Lord’s Resistance Army. The Ugandan government is aware of the large number of child soldiers in their country, but not much has been done to stop this from occurring.

These are just a few of the many countries that are facing great difficulty. Countries all across the world are experiencing problems with extreme poverty, disease, child soldiers, prostitution, and many other horrible things. People in the United States tend to forget how much they have to be thankful for. Although you may feel like your world is falling apart at times, it is important to never forget the many things you are blessed with.