That seems like a reasonable definition of "extremely rare". Platinum is extremely rare, several hundred tons of it are mined every year. (A number that sounds incredibly heavy, but pales in comparison to the numbers of common metals.)

Half a percentage is "extremely rare" compared to numbers like 50%. Most people in America have absolutely no experience with the sort of poverty that is nearly inescapable in many underdeveloped counties.

If you can't get over the "~1.5 million” thing, just consider that this is comparable to the poplulation of The Bronx.

How can that number be true if food stamp benefits net roughly $200, and earned income tax credit is $487 for a single person? Both numbers go up significantly if children are involved.

Then you should know enough to see the difference between the poverty these and back in the US. In some of the countries you mentioned some people die because they are poor. In the US, you usually don't die of that poverty. You don't live very well, you struggle to make a living and to eat well, but you don't just disappear and die like that.