The World Health Organization website reports  that there are more than 300 million people who are deaf; having a moderate to profound hearing loss in one or both ears. Statistics that are listed on a country-by-country basis are often quite inconsistent when comparing percentages and estimates. It seems like a simple question, but it is not one that has a simple answer. While worldwide organizations have found it difficult to pinpoint the population of the Deaf it is estimated by the World Federation of the Deaf that 72 million are culturally Deaf.