Coming soon — We're putting the final touches on something new.
The world in numbers
A few long-run indicators that show how life on Earth has changed.
More people than ever
The global population has more than tripled since 1950, passing eight billion — though growth has slowed markedly in recent decades.
Longer lives
A child born today can expect to live more than two decades longer than one born in 1950, as health and living conditions improved worldwide.
Fewer children lost
The share of children who die before their fifth birthday has fallen dramatically — one of the clearest signs of human progress.
Growing prosperity
Average economic output per person has risen steadily, lifting billions out of poverty even as the gains remain unevenly shared.
More years in school
People spend far longer in education than past generations, widening access to skills and opportunity across the globe.
A heavier footprint
Rising prosperity has come with rising emissions: average CO₂ output per person stays high, the defining challenge of the century.