Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the global population reached 8.045 billion people, marking a 0.9% increase from 2022, with India surpassing China as the most populous country at 1.428 billion residents.
- As of mid-2023, Asia hosts 60% of the world's population, totaling approximately 4.82 billion people, while Africa accounts for 18% or 1.46 billion.
- The United Nations projects the world population to peak at around 10.4 billion in the 2080s before slightly declining to 10.3 billion by 2100.
- Global GDP reached $100.6 trillion in 2022, with the US at $25.5 trillion (25%), China at $18.1 trillion (18%), per nominal terms.
- World trade volume grew 2.7% in 2022 despite slowdowns, totaling $28.5 trillion in goods and services, led by electronics and fuels.
- Inflation globally averaged 8.7% in 2022, highest since 1993, driven by energy prices post-Ukraine invasion, per IMF data.
- Global smartphone shipments reached 1.21 billion units in 2022, down 6% YoY, with Samsung at 260 million and Apple 226 million.
- Internet users worldwide hit 5.3 billion in 2023, 66% penetration, with mobile at 92% of connections.
- AI market size was $184 billion in 2023, projected to $826 billion by 2030 at 28% CAGR, per Grand View Research.
- Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels hit 37.4 billion tonnes in 2023, up 1.1% from 2022, per Global Carbon Project.
- Forest cover worldwide is 31% of land area, 4.06 billion hectares, losing 420 million hectares since 1990.
- Plastic production reached 400 million tonnes in 2022, with 36% packaging, oceans receiving 14 million tonnes yearly.
- Global obesity tripled since 1975, 1 billion adults obese in 2022, 16% prevalence.
- COVID-19 cumulative cases exceeded 775 million globally by 2024, with 7 million deaths reported.
- Smoking kills 8 million yearly, 1.3 billion tobacco users, 80% in low/middle-income countries.
The blog post summarizes global demographic, economic, and health trends using current statistics.
Demographics
- In 2023, the global population reached 8.045 billion people, marking a 0.9% increase from 2022, with India surpassing China as the most populous country at 1.428 billion residents.
- As of mid-2023, Asia hosts 60% of the world's population, totaling approximately 4.82 billion people, while Africa accounts for 18% or 1.46 billion.
- The United Nations projects the world population to peak at around 10.4 billion in the 2080s before slightly declining to 10.3 billion by 2100.
- In 2022, the global fertility rate stood at 2.3 children per woman, down from 4.9 in 1960, with South Korea having the lowest at 0.78.
- Urban population worldwide reached 56.9% in 2022, projected to hit 68% by 2050, with 37% living in cities of over 1 million inhabitants.
- Life expectancy at birth globally averaged 72.8 years in 2019, with females at 75.6 years and males at 70.1 years, recovering from COVID-19 dips.
- In 2023, Nigeria's population grew by 2.41% to 223.8 million, making it Africa's most populous nation and projected to be third globally by 2050.
- The median age of the world population is 30.4 years as of 2023, with Africa's at 19.7 years contrasting Europe's 42.8 years.
- By 2050, 16% of the global population will be over 65, up from 10% in 2022, driven by aging in China, Japan, and Europe.
- Migration added 281 million international migrants globally in 2020, or 3.6% of population, with the US hosting 51 million.
- In 2023, world population reached 8.045 billion people, marking a 0.9% increase from 2022, with India surpassing China as the most populous country at 1.428 billion residents.
- As of mid-2023, Asia hosts 60% of the world's population, totaling approximately 4.82 billion people, while Africa accounts for 18% or 1.46 billion.
- The United Nations projects the world population to peak at around 10.4 billion in the 2080s before slightly declining to 10.3 billion by 2100.
- In 2022, the global fertility rate stood at 2.3 children per woman, down from 4.9 in 1960, with South Korea having the lowest at 0.78.
- Urban population worldwide reached 56.9% in 2022, projected to hit 68% by 2050, with 37% living in cities of over 1 million inhabitants.
- Life expectancy at birth globally averaged 72.8 years in 2019, with females at 75.6 years and males at 70.1 years, recovering from COVID-19 dips.
- In 2023, Nigeria's population grew by 2.41% to 223.8 million, making it Africa's most populous nation and projected to be third globally by 2050.
- The median age of the world population is 30.4 years as of 2023, with Africa's at 19.7 years contrasting Europe's 42.8 years.
Demographics Interpretation
Economy
- Global GDP reached $100.6 trillion in 2022, with the US at $25.5 trillion (25%), China at $18.1 trillion (18%), per nominal terms.
- World trade volume grew 2.7% in 2022 despite slowdowns, totaling $28.5 trillion in goods and services, led by electronics and fuels.
- Inflation globally averaged 8.7% in 2022, highest since 1993, driven by energy prices post-Ukraine invasion, per IMF data.
- Stock markets worldwide had a market cap of $109 trillion in 2023, with NYSE at $25 trillion and NASDAQ at $23 trillion leading.
- Global debt hit $305 trillion in 2022, 336% of GDP, with public debt at $91 trillion and private at $214 trillion.
- Cryptocurrency market cap peaked at $3 trillion in Nov 2021, fell to $800 billion by mid-2022, recovering to $1.2 trillion in 2023.
- Renewable energy investment reached $495 billion in 2022, 1/3 of total energy investment, with solar at $273 billion.
- Unemployment rate globally was 5.1% in 2022, affecting 205 million people, with youth at 13% per ILO estimates.
- E-commerce sales hit $5.2 trillion globally in 2022, 19% of retail, led by China at $2.1 trillion.
- Gold reserves totaled 35,700 tonnes worldwide in 2023, with US holding 8,133 tonnes (26%), per World Gold Council.
Economy Interpretation
Environment
- Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels hit 37.4 billion tonnes in 2023, up 1.1% from 2022, per Global Carbon Project.
- Forest cover worldwide is 31% of land area, 4.06 billion hectares, losing 420 million hectares since 1990.
- Plastic production reached 400 million tonnes in 2022, with 36% packaging, oceans receiving 14 million tonnes yearly.
- Renewable energy capacity hit 3,372 GW in 2022, 86% growth in decade, solar/wind 90% of additions.
- Global temperature anomaly was +1.18°C above pre-industrial in 2023, hottest year recorded.
- Biodiversity loss: 1 million species threatened, 25% mammals, 41% amphibians per IPBES report.
- Water stress affects 2.4 billion people, 744 million in high stress, projected 5.7 billion by 2050.
- Coral reefs declined 14% since 2009, 70-90% bleaching in 2023 Great Barrier Reef event.
- Air pollution caused 8.1 million deaths in 2021, PM2.5 levels 11x WHO guideline in South Asia.
Environment Interpretation
Health
- Global obesity tripled since 1975, 1 billion adults obese in 2022, 16% prevalence.
- COVID-19 cumulative cases exceeded 775 million globally by 2024, with 7 million deaths reported.
- Smoking kills 8 million yearly, 1.3 billion tobacco users, 80% in low/middle-income countries.
- Global cancer incidence 20 million new cases in 2022, 9.7 million deaths, lung cancer top killer.
- Diabetes affects 537 million adults in 2021, projected 783 million by 2045, 90-95% type 2.
- Mental disorders affect 970 million people in 2019, anxiety/depression 301 million, up post-COVID.
- Vaccination: 84% children got DTP3 in 2022, but 14.5 million zero-dose, measles coverage 83%.
- Antimicrobial resistance caused 1.27 million deaths directly in 2019, 4.95 million associated.
- Maternal mortality ratio 223 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, sub-Saharan Africa 533.
- In 2022, 39 million people living with HIV, 1.3 million new infections, 630,000 AIDS deaths.
- Malaria caused 608,000 deaths in 2022, 96% Africa, 78% children under 5.
- Tuberculosis 10.6 million new cases in 2022, 1.3 million deaths, 87% in 30 high-burden countries.
- Global suicide rate 9.0 per 100,000 in 2019, 727,000 deaths, 58% males.
- Alcohol consumption averages 5.5 litres pure alcohol per adult yearly, causing 2.6 million deaths.
Health Interpretation
Technology
- Global smartphone shipments reached 1.21 billion units in 2022, down 6% YoY, with Samsung at 260 million and Apple 226 million.
- Internet users worldwide hit 5.3 billion in 2023, 66% penetration, with mobile at 92% of connections.
- AI market size was $184 billion in 2023, projected to $826 billion by 2030 at 28% CAGR, per Grand View Research.
- Data generated daily globally is 328.77 million terabytes in 2023, expected to reach 181 zettabytes annually by 2025.
- 5G connections surpassed 1.5 billion worldwide in 2023, covering 65% of connections by 2029 forecast.
- Electric vehicle sales hit 10.2 million globally in 2022, 14% of car sales, with China at 6.9 million.
- Quantum computing market was $1.16 billion in 2023, projected to $65 billion by 2030 at 69% CAGR.
- Global cloud computing spending reached $595 billion in 2023, AWS 32%, Azure 21%, Google 11%.
- Satellite internet users to reach 1 million by 2023 end, with Starlink at 2 million terminals shipped.
- VR/AR market size $30 billion in 2023, projected $252 billion by 2028, gaming 45% share.
Technology Interpretation
Sources & References
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