Human rights rest on the idea of basic needs. Basic needs refer to goods and services that are necessary for life. You must have them to survive. Basic needs differ from wants: A want is something that’s nice to have, but you can actually live without; like an ice cream or a new skateboard.
What are the differences between needs and wants?
| NEEDS | WANTS | |
| Meaning | Basic requirements that must be fulfilled in order to survive. Something you need to have. | Goods and services that an individual like to have. Something you wish to have. |
| Nature | Limited | Unlimited |
| Represents | Necessity | Desire |
| Change | Remain constant over time | May change over time |
| Non-fulfillment | May result in the death of an individual | May result in to disappointment of an individual |