Disasters

On Jan. 6, the Christian Science Monitor published the figures that may help settle a few arguments.

In raw dollars, the United States ranks fourth in the world in the amount it contributed: Australia, $764 million; Germany, $680 million; Japan, $500 million; United States, $350 million; Norway, $182 million; Britain, $96 million; Italy, $95 million; Sweden, $80 million; Spain, $68 million; France, $66 million.

But that ranks the United States, with nearly 300 million people, among nations like Australia, which has fewer than 20 million, and Norway, fewer than 5 million. So the Monitor provided the more valid per-capita (per person) figures. Here are the top 10 nations: Norway, $39.35 per person; Australia, $38.37; Qatar, $29.75; Denmark, $14.04; Taiwan, $9.52; Sweden, $8.90; Germany, $8.25; Kuwait, $4.43; Japan, $3.93; Ireland, $3.43.

On a per-capita basis, the United States ranks 26th, with $1.19.

This is in line with its general foreign aid contribution, which is dead last among industrialized nations.